Ministry of Trade Industry and Resources

The government will step up support for K-consumer goods SMEs, helping them secure overseas certifications and reach global markets through distribution platforms. Through these measures, the government aims to move Korea beyond K-shaped export growth, where gains are concentrated among certain companies and products, and achieve “Exports for All.”

Minister JK (Jung-Kwan) Kim of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR) chaired the Second Public-Private Meeting on Export Expansion on June 24, 2026. MOTIR announced three agenda items: the Comprehensive Strategy to Support Exporting Companies with Overseas Certification; Support Measures for Halal Market Entry to Diversify Consumer Goods Exports ; and the Plan to Build Integrated Export Platforms for Distribution and K-Consumer Goods. The meeting brought together government officials, export support agencies, distribution companies, and consumer goods SMEs to discuss joint efforts to address overseas certification difficulties and expand K-consumer goods exports.

In his opening remarks, Minister Kim said, “Amid external uncertainty, ‘Exports for All’ is essential for Korea to secure its place among the world’s top five exporters. Export gains should not be limited to certain companies or products, but shared more broadly.” He added, “The public and private sectors will work together and make every effort to help K-consumer goods SMEs clear overseas certification barriers and reach markets around the world through distribution platforms.”

Comprehensive Strategy to Support Exporting Companies with Overseas Certification

Under the strategy, the government will reduce the burden on companies seeking overseas certifications. It will increase the number of foreign test reports and certificates that can be issued in Korea from 212 to 500 by 2028, giving companies wider access to certification services at home without having to visit overseas certification bodies. It will also use export vouchers for certifications taking more than one year and raise the reimbursement rate for unsuccessful attempts from 50 percent to 70 percent.

The AI-powered KnowTBT portal (www.knowtbt.kr) will serve as a single source of information on overseas certifications and technical regulations. It will also offer tailored services, including support with certification applications and links to voucher programs. The government will expand consulting to 2,000 companies by 2027, with experts supporting them from product development and process design through risk assessment and certification.

The Korean Agency for Technology and Standards (KATS), Korean diplomatic missions overseas, the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA), and other institutions will work as a “One Team” to swiftly resolve difficulties with foreign regulators’ unreasonable certification requirements. The government will also set up certification support desks at KOTRA’s trade offices in 20 major countries and establish a legal basis for systematic business support by enacting legislation on responses to and support for technical barriers to trade (TBT).

Support Measures for Halal Market Entry to Diversify Consumer Goods Exports 

The Korea International Trade Association (KITA) will implement support measures to help K-consumer goods enter halal markets. KITA will facilitate exchanges between Korean and overseas halal certification bodies. This will help Korean bodies expand recognition agreements to Middle Eastern countries, including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and extend their coverage to cosmetics, daily necessities, and other products. Using its Southeast Asia and Middle East branches, including those in Indonesia and the UAE, KITA will operate overseas halal support centers, tentatively named K-Halal Bridge, to facilitate cooperation between Korean and overseas halal institutions.

KITA will build a comprehensive halal information system for one-stop information and tailored one-on-one consulting. It will also offer KRW 10 billion in low-interest Trade Promotion Fund loans to halal exporters. In addition, KITA will designate more specialized trading companies for K-food and K-beauty in halal markets and expand B2C marketing, including K-Halal pop-up stores and live commerce, to help new exporters enter local markets.

Plan to Build Integrated Export Platforms for Distribution and K-Consumer Goods

Building on public-private cooperation, the government will connect K-consumer goods with the distribution industry to expand export channels for consumer goods and provide comprehensive support for identifying promising products, upgrading distribution platforms, and resolving overseas certification and logistics issues.

By 2030, the government aims to foster 10 flagship cross-border e-commerce platforms for K-consumer goods tailored by product category and region. Support will cover company matching, overseas marketing, and payment infrastructure. The ministry will also use online-to-offline (O2O) programs to move products with proven online demand into overseas retail networks, prepare a K-Consumer Goods Export Hub Map, and support overseas stores and pop-ups.

The government will also build K-Consumer Goods Carrier, a one-stop export support system for promising beauty, food, fashion, and other consumer products. It will bring distribution platforms and export support agencies together to provide country-specific support for certification, logistics, and financing. At the meeting, 13 distribution platforms and eight export support agencies signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU).

The government will expand overseas joint logistics centers in major consumer goods export markets and create a dedicated KOTRA support channel for distribution platforms. It will also use AI-based purchasing trend analysis and other tools to support exports of K-consumer goods.