The Ministry of SMEs and Startups (Minister Han Sung-sook) announced its "Plan to Vitalize Online Exports for SMEs" at the International Postal Logistics Center at Incheon International Airport on the 14th. This plan represents a government-wide support strategy designed to address the rapidly changing export environment, including the expansion of e-commerce and changes in customs policy, and to strengthen the foundation for SMEs' global online presence.
The Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS) presented three key strategies and detailed policies: fostering a specialized K-brand platform, designating strategic online export items and providing tailored support, strengthening logistics and customs clearance support, and establishing a K-brand protection system. Specifically, the ministry plans to completely revamp GobizKOREA into an "integrated online export gateway" and introduce cloud migration and AI-based matching capabilities to establish a customized support system for each company.
The core of this plan is to strengthen the global competitiveness of promising domestic platforms. The government will select small and medium-sized platforms with proven marketability and innovation from among TIPS and potential unicorn companies and provide up to 1 billion won in policy funding. The government will also foster specialized K-content platforms focused on emerging markets like South America and the Middle East. Furthermore, through collaboration between platform companies and the government, the government will provide comprehensive support for promising SMEs' global expansion, marketing, and consulting.
The second pillar is the "K-Online Export Strategic Item" system. This system designates products with excellent domestic and international sales performance or high global market potential and provides them with "online export vouchers," allowing companies to utilize these vouchers for market research, promotion, and intellectual property rights acquisition. A new "K-Innovation Envoy" program will also be established to support local expansion.
The third goal is to strengthen logistics and customs clearance support. The Ministry of SMEs and Startups will introduce a logistics voucher program exclusively for online exports starting in 2026 and promote cost reductions through EMS discounts (up to 30%) and the use of private logistics companies' shipping space. The "Smart Trade Hub," currently under construction at Incheon International Airport, is expected to begin operations in late 2026 and handle over 24,000 items of SME cargo per day. Furthermore, in cooperation with the Korea Customs Service, the Ministry will pursue improvements to the customs clearance system, including expanding simplified export declarations and streamlining return procedures.
Meanwhile, the government is establishing the "K-Brand Intellectual Property Protection Council" to protect K-brands and establish a transaction safety net. It is also introducing online sales payment insurance in collaboration with the Korea Trade Insurance Corporation. The key goal is to ensure that a portion of settlement payments are guaranteed even in the event of platform management deterioration.
Minister Han Seong-sook stated, “We will push forward these measures without a hitch so that online exporting SMEs can experience them in the field,” and added, “We will also prepare follow-up policies to help South Korea leap forward as an online export powerhouse.”
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