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Insights & Guides

Korean E-commerce Intelligence

Expert analysis, tactical guides, and market insights for brands selling in Korea.

73–84 of 174 articles

Commerce Trends

Korea's 3 Children's-Product KC Types: Which Fits Your Item

Korea sorts children's products into three KC conformity-assessment types by risk level — safety certification, safety confirmation, or supplier's confirmation. Here is which one your toy, garment, or gear item needs.

Kontactic Team9 min read
Commerce Trends

Responsible Distributor for Cosmetics in Korea

Under Korea's Cosmetics Act, imported cosmetics need a licensed Korean responsible distributor (화장품책임판매업자) to reach the market — a role a foreign brand can't hold directly.

Kontactic Team8 min read
Commerce Trends

Do You Register a Korean Food Import Once, or Every Shipment?

Korea splits imported-food compliance into two filings: a one-time overseas manufacturer registration and a per-shipment import declaration filed on every batch. Here is what recurs.

Kontactic Team8 min read
Commerce Trends

KC Certification Required: Customs Holds Electronics

If a regulated electrical or wireless product reaches Korea without valid KC certification, customs holds the shipment — it isn't fined and released. Here's why.

Kontactic Team8 min read
Commerce Trends

When Coupang Recognizes Your Sale as Revenue

Coupang recognizes your sale on delivery completion, not on payment — and returns can reverse a sale after it ships. Here is when you actually get paid.

Kontactic Team8 min read
Kontactic Journal

How to Run a Midday Check-In on Korea Accounts

A midday check-in on a Korea account is a short daily review that catches problems before they compound — settlement gaps, inbound holds, ad pacing, funding.

Kontactic Team7 min read
Commerce Trends

Why Coupang Needs Separate API Calls for Price and Stock

On Coupang's Open API, price and stock updates run through separate item-level endpoints once a listing is approved — not the product-edit call that created it.

Kontactic Team9 min read
Commerce Trends

What to Ship to Coupang Rocket Growth—and Who Owns It

Under Rocket Growth you own the inventory while Coupang stores and delivers it. Stock only changes hands under a separate wholesale purchase, not fulfillment.

Kontactic Team8 min read
Commerce Trends

Korea Importer of Record: You Need a Corporate Seal

Korean importer registration demands a registered corporate seal and a resident representative — two requirements a purely offshore brand cannot satisfy alone. Here is why, and the three ways around it.

Kontactic Team10 min read
Commerce Trends

Korea Import Duty Is Assessed on CIF Value, Not Your Invoice

The Korea Customs Service assesses import duty on the CIF value — goods plus freight and insurance — then charges 10% VAT on the duty-inclusive total. Here is how to model it.

Kontactic Team9 min read
Commerce Trends

Safety Confirmation vs. Biocide Approval: Which Korea Track?

Korea splits household chemical compliance into two tracks: a lighter safety-confirmation route for cleaners and a far heavier active-substance approval route for biocidal products. Here is how to tell which one applies before you set a launch date.

Kontactic Team9 min read
Kontactic Journal

Who Funds Coupang Ad Spend Before Your First Payout?

Coupang ad spend is always the client's cost — but the timing gap before your first settlement means you fund it up front. Here is how that works under Spark Subscription and Blaze.

Kontactic Team8 min read
Kontactic Team

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