Turning Online Sellers into Star Brands... Ministry of SMEs and Startups Launches 'TOPS' with Platform Companies

TOPS Program Launched
Platforms Discover Small Businesses, Government Provides Support
"We Will Help Small Businesses Grow into Small Enterprises"

The Ministry of SMEs and Startups and the Korea SMEs and Startups Distribution Center held a launch ceremony for the Online Brand Small Business Development Project (TOPS) on the 18th at The Westin Chosun Seoul in Jung-gu, Seoul, with about 70 participants including 10 private platforms and outstanding online sellers.

The TOPS program is a project where excellent private platform companies in each field directly discover promising brand small businesses with high growth potential, and support their online sales channels step-by-step by injecting resources through one-on-one matching with the government.

At the launch ceremony, Hwang Young-ho, Head of the Small Business Management Stability Support Group, explained, "While existing government support projects focused on expanding the base for small businesses to enter the online market, the purpose of this TOPS program is for the government and platform companies to nurture star small businesses together and grow together."

Oh Young-joo, Minister of SMEs and Startups, is taking a commemorative photo with participants after conducting the project launch ceremony at the '2025 Online Brand Small Business Promotion Project Agreement and Proclamation Ceremony' held on the 18th at The Westin Chosun Seoul in Jung-gu, Seoul. Provided by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups

The operation method of the TOPS program is as follows. First, one-on-one customized consultations are provided to 3,000 small businesses directly selected by platform companies. Among them, 300 companies are further selected to support promotional costs for sales activation and revenue maximization, and additional dedicated funds are linked and supported. Finally, 30 companies are selected as 'TOPS of the Year' and supported to grow into small enterprises through special exhibitions and offline pop-up stores. The executing private platform companies also autonomously provide customized specialized programs to small businesses.

SSG and SK Stoa, selected as executing organizations, announced customized specialized programs for small businesses to be promoted through TOPS. SSG stated that to ensure stable market settlement for new sellers, it will reduce advertising and commission rates and assign dedicated MDs for each partner company to operate a grievance reception window. SK Stoa plans to support the expansion of online sales channels through SK Group’s sales channels and allow the use of SK Group’s marketing resources.

Oh Young-joo, Minister of SMEs and Startups, said, "Through the TOPS program, we aim to present a new milestone for partnerships among platforms, small businesses, and the government," adding, "If we create a model where small businesses grow and innovate to become small enterprises, it will bring positive changes to the online platform ecosystem."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.