The Ministry of SMEs and Startups (Acting Minister: Vice Minister Noh Yong-seok) announced on September 8 that 188 companies have been selected to participate in the K-Export Strategy Item Support Program for 2026.
This initiative seeks to nurture innovative products from K-brands, particularly in the beauty sector, capitalizing on the growing global demand fueled by the K-Culture wave. The program is designed to help these products evolve into world-class commodities.
Initially launched in 2024, the program first assisted 30 companies in the beauty and food sectors, and expanded to incorporate 80 additional companies from the fashion and life sectors last year, thereby facilitating their entry into global markets.
This year, similar to last year, the program sought applicants from the four major consumer goods sectors: beauty, fashion, life, and food. A total of 983 companies showed significant interest by applying. Among these, a panel of foreign consumers and global distribution experts assessed candidates based on innovation, potential for global expansion, and local competitiveness, ultimately selecting 188 companies.
In the beauty sector, standout participants include 'Pakette' (brand name: Mixsoon), which rapidly grew in the clean beauty market with its 'Bean Essence' product, predominantly made from fermented soybean extracts. With a philosophy centered on pure ingredients, the brand has successfully exported to regions including the United States, Japan, and Southeast Asia, and is now looking to expand further into Europe and Latin America.
Noteworthy in the life sector is 'Cocodor,' which maintains the largest market share in the domestic diffuser market due to its exceptional cost-performance ratio and a diverse product range. The company exports approximately 10 billion KRW worth of home fragrance products annually to over 60 countries. With proprietary scent-blending technology and the largest automated manufacturing infrastructure in Korea, Cocodor aims to dominate the global home fragrance market.
The selected companies will receive tailored programs leveraging the infrastructure and networks of domestic global distribution partners. There are also benefits such as prioritized participation in K-brand global market entry projects, export vouchers, overseas certification assistance, and participation in international exhibitions and consultations through government export support initiatives.
