Naver's Interview Process (2026)

Blog / Naver's Interview Process (2026)
Naver Interview Process
Naver's software engineer interview process is a multi-stage pipeline that generally takes three to four months from application to offer. Most candidates report four main stages, though the exact format and timeline can vary by team and role level.
  • Application Submission: Candidates typically submit a resume alongside specific essay questions, which often ask about technical challenges you have solved and your engineering growth goals.
  • CS and Coding Test: An online assessment of around 150 minutes that combines a three-problem coding section with a 20-question multiple-choice CS theory exam covering OS, networking, databases, and SQL.
  • 1st Interview: Technical Competency: A live video interview usually structured as two back-to-back sessions of around 40 minutes each, with a short break in between. One session focuses on your specific tech stack and past projects, while the other covers CS fundamentals and live problem-solving.
  • 2nd Interview: Comprehensive Competency: A final round, either in-person at Naver 1784 or Green Factory, or via video, that evaluates culture fit, your long-term engineering vision, and your interest in Naver's specific services and AI direction.
To prepare effectively for each stage, it helps to split your study plan into these core areas:
  • Data Structures & Algorithms (DSA): Three coding problems covering implementation, data structures, and search algorithms.
  • CS Fundamentals: A formal timed exam on OS, networking, databases, and SQL with precise multiple-choice questions.
  • System Design: Scalable architecture questions for mid and senior-level candidates, often referencing Naver-scale services.
  • Behavioral and Culture Fit: Questions on conflict resolution, engineering values, and your interest in Naver's AI services.
1. Data Structures & Algorithms (DSA)The coding section presents three problems generally at a Silver to Gold difficulty level on Baekjun. You can expect questions that test implementation fluency, with common themes in 2025 and 2026 including sliding window, priority queue and heap combinations, and binary search applications.DFS and BFS graph traversal problems appear regularly, so make sure you are comfortable with both iterative and recursive approaches. Problems like Number of Islands are a solid example of the graph-based implementation style Naver favors.HashMap-heavy problems that combine multiple data structures in a single solution are frequently reported by candidates. Working through our top 100 DSA questions is a good way to build the breadth of pattern recognition this test demands.One practical note: during the proctored online test, you are limited to blank A4 paper for notes. No notebooks or tablets are allowed, so practice working through problems with minimal scratch space.
2. CS FundamentalsUnlike most tech companies that only screen on coding, Naver includes a formal 20-question CS theory exam as part of the first screening phase. The 2025 format introduced 'Select All' questions where missing even one correct option out of four results in zero points for that question, so shallow familiarity with topics is not enough.Networking topics include HTTP vs HTTPS differences and the DNS resolution process. Brush up on your networking fundamentals to make sure you can answer these precisely under time pressure.OS questions tend to focus on process vs. thread distinctions, context switching overhead, and deadlock conditions. Review operating systems concepts thoroughly, as these are areas where candidates often lose points on the 'Select All' format.Database questions cover indexing structures like B-Trees, ACID properties, and SQL query optimization. Spend time on SQL theory to make sure you can reason about query performance, not just write syntactically correct queries.
3. System DesignSystem design questions at Naver are primarily reserved for mid-level and senior candidates. You can expect to design scalable architectures for high-traffic services, with reported examples including a real-time notification system and a high-traffic search ranking cache.Start by solidifying your understanding of the core building blocks on our High-Level Design topic page. Practicing with our System Design AI Whiteboard can also help you get comfortable sketching and explaining architectures in a live setting.Naver operates at significant scale, so interviewers will push on decisions around caching, replication, and fault tolerance. Reviewing caching fundamentals and system design core concepts will give you a strong vocabulary for these conversations.
4. Behavioral and Culture FitThe 2nd interview at Naver is described by recent candidates as deceptively technical. You will be asked about conflict resolution and how you handle disagreement with technical leads, but also about Naver's specific AI services like HyperCLOVA X and how you would contribute to their direction.Typical questions include scenarios around disagreeing with a technical decision and staying current with AI developments. Structuring your answers using the STAR principle keeps your responses grounded and clear.For experienced hires, Naver has been asking candidates to demonstrate 'AI-native' productivity, specifically how they use tools like Copilot or Cursor to accelerate development while still catching errors in AI-generated code. The Behavioral Interview Course can help you frame these real-world working habits into compelling, well-structured answers.
ConclusionNaver's process is long but predictable once you know the structure. Focus your early preparation on CS fundamentals and DSA patterns, then layer in system design and culture fit work as you progress through the stages. Follow the Naver Interview Roadmap for a structured, stage-by-stage plan that covers everything from the online test to the final round.

About TechPrep

Never walk into a technical interview unprepared again. TechPrep empowers software engineers to stop guessing and start getting offers. We provide the exact questions asked by tech companies across Data Structures & Algorithms, System Design, Low-Level Design & Practical coding rounds. Don't leave your career up to chance. Join thousands of engineers who have successfully navigated the tech hiring maze and landed roles at top tech companies.