Exports through online commerce are drawing attention as an example of “creative economy,” a key policy task of the Park Geun-hye administration, as they create new jobs and add value.

eBay Korea, which runs the nation’s two largest online shopping malls Gmarket and Auction, has been serving as the window to overseas markets for small businesses through unsparing investments and various assistance programs.

eBay is the only Korean retailer to run an online export program for small businesses. The “Cross Border Trade” program, led since 2009, supports exports of small and medium-sized firms through eBay, the world’s largest e-commerce site.

Used by some 200 million people across 200 countries, eBay has a vast platform that makes it easy for small-business owners to build bridgeheads for overseas expansion.

The number of Korean sellers going abroad through the CBT system has risen by a yearly average of 50 percent over the past three years to about 10,000. 

The size of exports through eBay also grew sharply from 17 billion won ($15 million) in 2008 at the beginning of the service to 250 billion won last year.

eBay Korea also backs various educational programs on exports for small-business owners. Through a seller assistance site at www.ebay.co.kr, the company offers offline and video lectures as well as educational content on overseas sales.

In August last year, eBay pioneered a path to help small businesses automatically export their products to 39 countries by introducing a “Global Export Platform.”

The GEP system translates the sellers’ product information into foreign languages and registers the products on eBay for overseas sale purposes.

Language, customs clearance and customer relations had been the barriers for many sellers who were interested in selling their products abroad.

But now, they can have all their problems solved just by registering their products on Gmarket through the GEP system.

eBay and its partners provide the costs for product registration, all the necessary services including translation, and logistics, deliveries and customer relations assistance.

Thanks to the export assistance programs, small sellers now export a variety of products to a wider range of countries.

Beauty products such as cosmetics were the most popular items exported through eBay Korea in 2012.

Hallyu-related collections including “Gangnam Style” costumes came second, followed by baby products, smartphone accessories and car accessories such as black boxes.

By country, sales to Russia, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Brazil, Chile and Argentina showed strong growth.

Northern European, Russian and South American orders accounted for 30 percent of the exports, indicating a diversification of export destinations.

eBay’s global network has enabled small-business owners to export their products, and create added value as well as new jobs, becoming an exemplar of creative economy.

“We are running diverse programs to help small businesses with high growth potential to explore new export channels,” said an official at eBay.

“eBay will continue to actively support small-business owners to tap new markets in South America and Southeast Asia beyond the U.S., diversify their merchandise from hallyu-related items to cosmetics and baby products, and create new demand.”

By Kim So-hyun (sophie@heraldcorp.com)