Naver-Toss rivalry deepens as both sides trade accusations

The rivalry between Korean tech giants Toss and Naver has escalated into a public dispute, with both sides trading accusations of unfair business practices, drawing scrutiny from lawmakers, industry officials said Tuesday. The latest dispute centers on Naver's exclusion of Toss Place's point-of-sale (POS) system from a service that integrates merchants' transaction data with Naver's search and map services. The integration allows users to check information such as a restaurant's popular menu items and peak hours. Naver has integrated its platform with 15 other POS providers but has excluded Toss Place, according to Rep. Song Eon-seog of the main opposition People Power Party. Toss Place CEO Choi Jae-ho said the company had sought integration for two years but had received no clear explanation of the criteria for inclusion. Naver denied discriminating against Toss Place, saying it was gradually expanding integrations based on objective criteria. During a parliamentary audit Monday, the Fair Trade Commission said it would review both sides' claims to determine whether any unfair discrimina