The Ministry of SMEs and Startups (Acting Minister: Deputy Minister Noh Yong-seok) convened a discussion on the 'Four Major Innovation Strategies for Exporting SMEs' during the 13th National Policy Coordination Meeting chaired by the Prime Minister on September 3.
As of the first half of 2026, exports from small and medium enterprises in Korea have reached a historic high of $64 billion. New growth drivers, such as K-beauty and online exports, contribute significantly to enhancing the dynamism and diversity of the country's exports.
The government aims to ensure that the current positive trend in SME exports does not result in only short-term achievements but rather establishes a more robust growth foundation. This includes expanding the rapid growth of promising exporters, identifying and supporting export-ready products across consumer goods and industrial items, facilitating market entry into emerging markets based on diplomatic successes, and enhancing the export support system from the perspective of enterprises. These objectives form the overarching framework of the 'Four Major Innovation Strategies for Exporting SMEs.'
The 'Global Scale-up 500' initiative will support the focused growth of promising exporters over multiple years. This effort aims to assist 500 high-potential companies in establishing export roadmaps and facilitate their rapid growth through multi-year bundled support. Additionally, support for globalizing policies will be extended beyond marketing to encompass the expansion of the supply chain, including the addition of sourcing menus in the export voucher program and the discovery of local entry agencies, while increasing inter-departmental policy links.
'Export ON 2000' will encourage the export transition of diverse innovative entities, targeting individualized support for 2,000 ventures, including young entrepreneurs, small business owners, regional companies, and those re-attempting exports. Support will be provided to young entrepreneurs in the preparation stages of globalization by offering export experiences and resources. Tailored support systems will also be implemented for small and medium enterprises with differentiated products and brands, regional leading industries, and firms rebooting exports, facilitating their integration into the export sector and online platform usage.
In the consumer goods sector, promising items such as fashion, food, and beauty devices will be identified and nurtured as the next generation of 'K-Brand Strategy Items.' Utilizing the distribution networks of anchor companies in media and retail will help diversify the overseas marketing efforts of SMEs. Inter-departmental collaboration will be strengthened to resolve logistics, intellectual property, and certification issues essential for consumer goods exports, alongside enhanced specialized support for related industries critical to the growth of consumer goods companies.
The government plans to convert established inter-country cooperative channels into opportunities for SMEs through diplomatic efforts. A comprehensive overseas advancement hub will be set up in India, providing spaces for bases, exhibitions, and warehousing, while connecting with local institutions, venture capital, and universities for comprehensive support in manufacturing, testing, investment, and human resources. Initiatives will expand K-beauty’s online and offline presence in Brazil while enhancing cooperation with local regulatory bodies.
Singapore will see the establishment of a startup-specialized hub and the creation of the Global Venture Fund (K-VCC). In Europe, the introduction of permanent K-Brand pop-up stores will occur, while Mongolia will exploit local convenience store networks to implement tailored measures for supporting SMEs in respective countries.
To improve policy accessibility from the perspective of SMEs, unified announcements and simplified application processes for export support programs will be developed, along with tailored recommendations for buyers and support programs through artificial intelligence (AI).
