Do not go gentle into that good night, old age should burn and rave at close of day; Rage, rage against the dying of the light, though wise men at their end know dark is right, because their words had forked no lightning they, do not go gentle into that good night.
Coupang accelerates Taiwan expansion as Korean exports gain momentum
Coupang's logistics center in Taoyuan, Taiwan / Courtesy of Coupang
By Jhoo Dong-chan
Coupang, Korea’s largest online retailer, said Wednesday that it is intensifying its logistics investments in Taiwan, opening a fourth distribution center in Taoyuan and extending next-day Rocket Delivery to about 70 percent of the island.
The expansion comes as the company reported that the number of small businesses selling on its platform surpassed 300,000 as of the end of last year, up from approximately 230,000 in 2023, a roughly 30 percent increase over two years. Small businesses refer to those with annual revenue of 3 billion won ($2.1 million) or less in Korea.
Their combined transaction volume grew more than 20 percent year-on-year in 2024, compared with an average growth rate of 0.2 percent for small businesses nationwide during the same period, according to data from Korea Credit Data, a fintech platform serving small merchants.
Coupang said more than 70 percent of small businesses on Coupang's platform are based outside the metropolitan area, in regions including Gyeongsang, Jeolla, Chungcheong and Gangwon provinces. So far, more than 10,000 such businesses have since graduated from small business status to become small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
The retailer entered Taiwan in 2021 and launched Rocket Delivery there in October 2022. The newly opened fourth logistics center in Taoyuan is equipped with artificial intelligence and robotics and brings the company's Rocket Delivery reach to the central and southern parts of the island.
More than 10,000 Korean SMEs are currently selling in Taiwan through the platform, with Coupang handling customs clearance, logistics and marketing on their behalf through a one-stop export support system.
“As Rocket Delivery takes root in Taiwan's retail market, the export boost for Korean SMEs grappling with weak domestic demand is expected to become more pronounced this year," a Coupang official said.
Last August, Coupang held a large-scale promotional event for more than 1,000 Korean SME products on its Taiwanese platform. The company has also partnered with Korea's Ministry of SMEs and Startups and the Korea SMEs and Startups Agency under a joint overseas expansion support program, and holds a designation as a specialized trading company from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources.
Coupang said it plans to continue expanding its logistics and export support infrastructure to help regional small businesses access both the domestic market and international markets such as Taiwan.
This article was published with the assistance of generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.