On the 10th, Seoul Business Agency (SBA), led by CEO Kim Hyun-woo, declared 2026 as the 'Global 2.0 Year' as it seeks to innovate its overseas export support programs significantly. This bold proclamation signals a strategic pivot towards enhancing competitiveness among SMEs in Seoul.

Historically, until 2021, the SBA focused primarily on domestic market enhancement, generating a domestic revenue of 12 billion KRW with a budget of 4.3 billion KRW. However, beginning in 2022, the agency shifted its focus entirely towards capturing global markets, which has resulted in a dramatic expansion of its operational scope. By 2025, it plans to operate with a 6.9 billion KRW budget while achieving an extraordinary 5.71 trillion KRW in export outcomes, evidencing a staggering 47-fold increase in export performance within just four years.

This strategic transformation centers around the development of an 'O2O (Online-to-Offline) export pipeline' that integrates online and offline initiatives. Previously focused separately on each channel, the SBA aims to break down these silos by providing optimized support throughout various growth stages of participating companies, collectively leveraging online platforms and physical retail spaces.

The core of this model encompasses a virtuous cycle from the Seoul Award certification to online platform entry and subsequent offline scale-up efforts. By recognizing outstanding products with the Seoul Award, the agency will allow businesses to gauge local market reactions online before facilitating their entry into major trade exhibitions and local retail channels to spur tangible revenue growth.

The Seoul Award, which has shifted from a domestic-centric program to a global export initiative by 2025, introduces enhanced objectivity through expert evaluations and consumer preference voting. The focus remains on discovering competitive products in three sectors—beauty, lifestyle, and food—ensuring alignment with international standards.

In a significant evolution of its support mechanisms, the SBA will go beyond merely issuing certification marks to providing extensive follow-up support aimed at revenue generation. This includes placing selected companies into seven major platforms and facilitating their participation in overseas exhibitions. Notably, participants in the '2026 Bologna Cosmoprof,' the world's largest beauty exhibition, have already achieved contracts totaling 220 million USD, establishing a firm foothold in Italy.

The agency's global online platform collaboration will also expand considerably. Plans include working with 840 companies across nine countries, targeting 255 billion KRW in exports through platforms such as Amazon in North America and the Middle East, TikTok Shop in North America and Southeast Asia, Shopee in Southeast Asia, Rakuten and Qoo10 in Japan, Xiaohongshu in China, and Mercado Libre in Latin America. Utilizing media commerce platforms like TikTok Shop and Xiaohongshu will lead to the implementation of viral marketing strategies that elicit immediate local consumer responses.

The integrated export roadmap developed over the past four years encompasses all steps, from domestic and international export consultations to major retail channel placements, ensuring a cohesive assessment of market viability through online consultations, essential certifications, and influencer marketing campaigns. This comprehensive strategy directly influences the operational behaviors and revenue trajectory of participating companies.

By 2025, the SBA is set to broaden its support across Asia—specifically Japan, Taiwan, Indonesia, and Singapore—as well as the Middle East, continually refining its approach in 2026 through tailored strategies targeting three primary markets: Japan, Indonesia, and Australia.

Furthermore, a significant increase in participation at major trade shows will be undertaken, focusing on markets in Thailand, Japan, and the Middle East, which will provide real-time data on local consumer reactions and sales performance. This initiative aims to deliver comprehensive export solutions that navigate the entire process from buyer matching to local sales.

CEO Kim Hyun-woo stated, 'After four years of restructuring toward export orientation, our companies are achieving visible results in the global market. Moving forward, we will continue to enhance the 'O2O export pipeline' to ensure that Seoul businesses secure substantial competitive advantages in global markets.'