SOOP is joining hands with the Korea Mutual Growth Manufacturing Association to support small and medium-sized manufacturers' online sales and participation in live commerce.

SOOP said on Sept. 16 it signed a memorandum of understanding with the incorporated Korea Mutual Growth Manufacturing Association to help smaller manufacturers develop online sales channels and strengthen digital commerce competitiveness.

Under the agreement, SOOP will use its platform and content production capabilities to support the planning, production and operation of live commerce content introducing products from association members. The association will identify member companies and products suited for live commerce and support participation.

The two sides will also cooperate on promoting policies to support small businesses and on identifying live commerce sales cases.

Products from association members will be introduced through SOOP's media commerce platform, "SOOP Store", and live commerce. Streamers will run broadcasts by introducing product features and how to use them, while communicating with users in real time.

SOOP plans to help smaller manufacturers that have focused on offline or business-to-business operations expand sales channels into business-to-consumer. It will also broaden participating product categories to include food, household goods, beauty and fashion.

The first joint live commerce event runs from Sept. 10 to Sept. 17. The two organisations plan to continue expanding participating companies and products based on operating results.

SOOP previously signed an agreement in 2023 with the Small Enterprise and Market Service, under the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, now the Korea SMEs and Startups Agency, and supported live commerce for more than 30 small merchants.

Han Kyung-hee (한경희), chairman of the Korea Mutual Growth Manufacturing Association, said, "We will actively identify competitive member companies and products and, together with SOOP, create tangible sales results and successful live commerce cases."

Yoon Seok-jae (윤석재), head of SOOP's Ad Commerce Business Division, stressed, "We will support smaller manufacturers so they can make their products known to consumers through SOOP's platform and content."