It is expected that it will become much easier for domestic Lycon (Lifestyle + Local + Icon) companies to enter the Japanese market.
Visionworks Ventures (CEO Minpyo Kim) announced on February 25 that it has signed a strategic memorandum of understanding (MOU) with global IP specialist SAIDLITE to develop sales channels for K-Lycon brands based on media commerce in the Japanese market.
The core of this agreement is to combine Visionworks Ventures' startup incubation capabilities with Cydilight's global media and content infrastructure to establish a cross-border expansion system for K-Lycon brands. This structure will link Cydilight affiliate OCO TV, a Japanese broadcaster, with the media commerce channels of major content platforms, while Visionworks Ventures will oversee the discovery and development of domestic companies.
Visionworks Ventures has been operating a specialized incubation program for the Japanese market, leveraging its practical acceleration expertise that has fostered 5,100 entrepreneurs. It has established a local network, including being selected as an official ambassador for SusHi Tech Tokyo (2025-2026), and is currently supporting Korean startups' expansion into Japan through the second phase of the Impact Driven Japan program.
Cydilight specializes in discovering and expanding global IP in Japan and the global market. In partnership with Ociotiv, the company will operate a channel that directly introduces Korean small business products to Japanese home shopping channels and entertainment programs. The company also plans to pursue a media commerce strategy by producing entertainment-style 4K content that combines local specialties and culture, naturally exposing brands to consumers.
Through this initiative, the two companies aim to establish a media commerce-style entry model that will enable local ventures in Korea and Japan to grow cross-border in each other's markets. They will also pursue the launch of collaborative products based on Korea-Japan collaboration and the expansion of cultural exchange.
Japanese home shopping broadcasts are characterized by long viewer retention times and high conversion rates, thanks to the widespread use of cross-programming within entertainment programs. According to industry sources, some Japanese broadcasters that only air four hours of home shopping a day generate 2.5 times the revenue of Korea's leading 24-hour home shopping company. Return rates are also lower, at less than 5% for broadcast home shopping and less than 3% for 4K broadcasts, compared to the online average of 20%, demonstrating Japanese consumers' high trust in broadcast-based commerce.
Visionworks Ventures and Cydilight plan to apply this Japanese-style, local media commerce ecosystem to domestic small business products, presenting a content-centric global branding model that goes beyond simple exports.
Kim Min-pyo, CEO of Visionworks Ventures, said, “Media commerce is no longer a simple advertising channel, but a platform where local brands directly connect with global consumers.” He added, “Through this agreement, we will utilize Japan’s highly trusted local broadcasting IP to simultaneously drive overseas branding and B2C sales for domestic small businesses.”
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