Korea SMEs and Startups Agency (KOSME) said on the 1st it is recruiting corporations to participate in the "2026 second overseas branch agency program" with the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources.
The overseas branch agency program serves as a local branch for small and midsize corporations that struggle with independent overseas marketing and market development, supporting exports and localization. KOSME, the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA), and the World-OKTA (OKTA) jointly carry it out.
KOSME selects local corporations with expertise in exports, overseas investment, and technology partnerships as an overseas private network to provide services needed for corporations to enter overseas markets, including export marketing and localization. Currently, 124 companies in 32 countries around the world are active as the overseas private network, and it has established itself as a key platform that helps corporations enter the global market.
In this second round, corporations can apply for services at the entry stage, which supports basic market research and buyer discovery; the growth stage, which helps with export deal support and entry into local distribution channels; and the expansion stage, which focuses on localization such as technology exports and legal consulting. Participating corporations will be selected through a comprehensive evaluation of export capabilities and overseas marketability. Corporations wishing to participate should apply on the export support base utilization program website by the 12th.
Park Jang-hyeok, head of global growth at KOSME, said, "The overseas branch agency program provides on-the-ground, close support tailored to a corporation's stage of overseas expansion," adding, "We will actively support corporations from early-stage exporters to those pursuing global market expansion so they can achieve tangible results."