From Import and Customs to Certification and Influencer Marketing—All in One Step?!K-fashion brands’ strategies for entering overseas markets are evolving. Beyond simple cross-border direct sales (CBT), local entry platforms that integrate local distribution networks and logistics are emerging as a new growth solution. One startup putting this strategy into action is the IT-based trading company NoTag Korea (CEO Woong Choi).
NoTag Korea partners with Korean fashion brands such as HDEX, COVERNAT, CITYBREEZE, FALLET, and NEIKIDNIS, managing their exports and distribution across Southeast Asia.
In particular, the company has strengthened its position as a local distribution partner by establishing local subsidiaries and logistics centers in Taiwan, Indonesia, and Thailand—not merely relying on simple CBT, but officially entering local online and offline distribution platforms.
Seo Jin-young, Head of Overseas Sales at NoTag Korea, explained, “The CBT-centered export model has the advantage of a low initial entry barrier, but it faces clear limitations in terms of high logistics costs, long delivery times, and customer service such as exchanges and refunds. For sustainable growth, entering local distribution channels is essential, and the Southeast Asian local e-commerce market is about ten times the size of the CBT market, making it the most strategic target market for K-brands.”
(Photo: Scene from the “IFBB PRO SHOW” competition in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, where HDEX participated as the main sponsor. NoTag Korea and HDEX are strengthening local brand awareness and branding by focusing on major fitness competitions across Southeast Asia.)
A representative example of this strategy is the gym-wear brand HDEX.Within just one year of entering the market through NoTag Korea’s distribution platform, HDEX has officially launched on major local platforms in Taiwan, Indonesia, and Thailand, including Tokopedia, Shopify, LINE Shopping, and Fitness Factory, achieving over 120% average monthly growth. In the Taiwanese market alone, the brand is on the verge of surpassing 2 billion KRW (approx. USD 1.5 million) in annual sales.
NoTag Korea provides an integrated solution that covers not only distribution but also local marketing. The company collaborated with 30 local ambassadors, including well-known athletes Kangmin Kim and Ahreum Song, both recognized in Southeast Asia through Netflix’s Physical: 100 Season 1, to run promotional campaigns.Through more than 10 pop-up stores in Taiwan and Indonesia and influencer marketing involving over 100 influencers in each country, the company successfully localized branding for its partner brands.
The core of NoTag Korea’s local-entry platform model is the technology-driven integration and automation of multi-country, multi-channel, and multi-brand distribution.Unlike traditional trading companies that rely heavily on sales networks, NoTag digitizes the entire export process through an AI-powered e-commerce automation management system.
By applying technology solutions such as local sales data analysis, automatic VAT refunds, and automated correction of logistics errors, NoTag maximizes both efficiency and scalability of distribution.Furthermore, leveraging customer data accumulated from distributing over 100 brands, the company offers customer experience (CX) design that reflects the consumer characteristics of each country and each brand’s identity, solidifying its position as a strategic partner that goes beyond a simple SaaS solution.
(Photo: Scene from an HDEX promotion organized by NoTag Korea, featuring brand promotions with Southeast Asian influencers and ambassadors, including Netflix “Physical: 100” cast members Kangmin Kim and Ahreum Song.)
머니투데이 고석용 기자
 IT-Based Trading Company Notag Korea Raises 2.55 Billion KRW in Series A Funding Notag Korea, an IT-driven comprehensive trading company, announced on the 22nd that it has secured 2.55 billion Korean won (approx. USD 1.9 million) in Series A funding. With this round, the company’s cumulative funding now totals 4.05 billion won. Notag Korea has developed and operates NTMS, a solution that integrates and manages over 50 online commerce platforms and national logistics centers across seven Southeast Asian countries. In this Series A round, previous pre-Series A investors DGB High-Investment Partners and Lotte Ventures participated again, while Blue Corner, AC Pathfinder, Korea Entrepreneurship Foundation, and the Yoonmin Creative Investment Foundation joined as new investors.
The company also supports the operation of local D2C (direct-to-consumer) commerce, logistics systems, and customer service centers for Korean brands entering Southeast Asia. More than 80 fashion, beauty, and lifestyle brands are distributed locally through Notag Korea, including:
CEO Choi Ung stated, “With this Series A funding, we plan not only to enhance our export-distribution network across seven Southeast Asian countries but also to invest in discovering and connecting with major fashion and beauty distribution channels in Europe.” [Unicorn Factory – MoneyToday’s startup media platform] © MoneyToday, “Real-Time News That Sees the Money.” Unauthorized reproduction or redistribution is prohibited. |
![[Brand Growth Project ① NoTag Korea] ‘Capture the Cross-Border E-Commerce Market by Understanding Local Cultures Overseas.](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a442d9_a3bac4c91fa443e38b53e63cc3294e25~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_720,h_682,fp_0.50_0.50,lg_1,q_30,blur_30,enc_avif,quality_auto/a442d9_a3bac4c91fa443e38b53e63cc3294e25~mv2.jpg)
![[Brand Growth Project ① NoTag Korea] ‘Capture the Cross-Border E-Commerce Market by Understanding Local Cultures Overseas.](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a442d9_a3bac4c91fa443e38b53e63cc3294e25~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_152,h_144,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_avif,quality_auto/a442d9_a3bac4c91fa443e38b53e63cc3294e25~mv2.jpg)
