The government, the home shopping industry and small and medium-sized enterprises will strengthen cooperation to develop the home shopping sector and promote shared growth.

The Broadcasting Media Communications Commission on July 20 held a "home shopping shared growth cooperation joint declaration ceremony" in Seoul, attended by 12 home shopping companies and partner SMEs.

The event is a follow-up to the "measures to boost shared growth and vitality in home shopping" that the commission announced in May. It aims to build a shared growth cooperation system based on autonomy and responsibility by the government, the home shopping industry and SMEs.

The ceremony was joined by 12 home shopping companies, including the TV Home Shopping and Data Home Shopping Association, GS Retail, CJ ENM, Hyundai Home Shopping, Woori Home Shopping, NS Shopping, Home & Shopping, Public Home Shopping, KT Alpha, TRN, Shinsegae Live Shopping, SK Stoa and W Shopping. Representatives of SMEs that grew in cooperation with each home shopping company also signed the joint declaration.

The declaration includes the government's regulatory reform and policy support, home shopping companies' support for SME growth and the spread of a fair trading culture, protection of user rights and interests, and stronger competitiveness in SMEs' products and services.

The participating organizations also set out 10 joint action tasks. The government will pursue regulatory reform aligned with changes in the industrial environment and build an on-site communication system. Home shopping companies will work to find products from high-performing SMEs, foster a fair trading culture and run broadcasts responsibly. SMEs will strengthen product and service competitiveness and enhance their growth capabilities based on consumer trust.

At the event, CJ ENM and FICC presented the case of the beauty brand Arocell, which grew through CJ OnStyle's small-brand development program, "CJ Oncubating". Four best practices in shared growth cooperation were also shared, including Home & Shopping's "program to revive small merchants in traditional markets".

Commission Chairman Jong-cheol Kim (김종철) said "shared growth cooperation between home shopping and SMEs is an important foundation for creating a fair distribution environment and the sustainable growth of SMEs." He added, "Continuous cooperation is needed to expand sales channels for SMEs and promote shared growth."