SME Ombudsman and SMBC Hear On-Site Concerns on Online Export Challenges

On-Site Proposals for Logistics Vouchers, Customs Clearance, and Certification
Expert Solutions Provided by Sector

The Small and Medium Business Corporation announced that it held the "2026 On-Site Meeting for Problem-Solving Visits by SMBC" at the Yeram Human Resources Training Center in Daejeon on the 27th.

The purpose of the meeting was to listen directly to the regulatory burdens and challenges experienced by companies in the field of online exports and to seek solutions through reviews by experts in each sector.

Attendees included Choi Seungjae, Ombudsman for Small and Medium Enterprises; Park Janghyuk, Executive Director of Global Growth at the Small and Medium Business Corporation; Lee Yongsun, Head of Online Export at the Small and Medium Business Corporation; Lee Seongcheon, Head of the Daejeon Regional Headquarters at the Small and Medium Business Corporation; as well as representatives from seven online export-oriented small and medium-sized venture companies from the Chungcheong, Daejeon, and Sejong regions.

On the 27th, Janghyuk Park, Senior Executive Director of Global Growth at the Korea Small and Medium Enterprise and Startups Agency, spoke at a meeting. Korea Small and Medium Enterprise and Startups Agency

The participating companies raised issues such as: extending the usage period for export logistics vouchers and securing a stable budget; simplifying required documentation—such as export declaration certificates—when settling government support projects; establishing a dispute response system for differences in HS (Harmonized System) codes for new fusion foods by country; and strengthening verification of overseas buyers on online export platforms. They also addressed challenges spanning customs, logistics, certification, and clearance procedures.

In particular, it was noted that international transportation and fulfillment logistics typically take one to three months from shipment until receipt of documents from carriers, yet the period of eligibility for support programs is limited. This results in gaps in logistics cost support during the high-demand season in the fourth quarter. There was also an example where an innovative fusion food, declared as "coffee" for export in Korea, was classified under an agricultural product code by foreign customs, causing clearance delays.

A panel of experts provided immediate solutions on-site for these concerns. The panel included Kang Hyojeong, Certified Tax Accountant and CEO of Expert Tax Firm; Kim Youngsik, Team Leader at DHL Korea; Lee Seungmin, CEO of Green Whale Networks; Jeong Seokhyeon, Chief Customs Broker at Ain United Customs Brokerage; and Ga Kigyeong, Principal Researcher at the Korea Testing & Research Institute (KTR).

Choi Seungjae, Ombudsman for Small and Medium Enterprises, stated, "Field issues in online exports often arise from the interplay of budget, clearance, and certification systems, leaving companies at a loss as to whom they should turn to for help. Every suggestion made today will be reviewed in detail with the relevant ministries, and for those issues where improvement is possible, we will ensure there is a tangible outcome."

Park Janghyuk, Executive Director of Global Growth at the Small and Medium Business Corporation, said, "Given the nature of online exports, which are characterized by small volumes and high frequency, there are ongoing points of friction with systems originally designed for offline exports. SMBC will connect field-identified difficulties with regulatory reform while also providing information and expert consultations through GoBizKorea to resolve these issues."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.