Korean shoppers are active on the internet, like to shop via mobile devices and actively follow new trends. If you want to connect your dropshipping business with the South Korean market, you need to adapt your advertising creatives to local requirements in advance. In this article, HLTS South Korea's marketing experts will look at what you need to consider to make your adverts work effectively and your business successful in Korea.

Cultural characteristics and customer preferences
South Korea is one of the most technologically advanced countries in the world with a unique consumer culture. Korean consumers are accustomed to minimalist design, simple and clear images. Adverts that are too cluttered can cause a negative reaction.

Koreans often choose products based on quality rather than price. Advertisements should emphasise premium materials, strength and durability of the product.

Local promotional platforms
The South Korean internet is different from the western internet. Local platforms are leading the way here and play a key role in advertising. The main search engine is Naver, which differs from Google not only in algorithms, but also in the structure of the output. For successful promotion in the Korean market, it is important to focus on localised SEO optimisation for Naver first, and then for the less popular Google.

Adapt advertising creatives for promo code campaigns in KakaoTalk messenger and product reviews on bloggers' resources on Naver (Naver Blog and Naver Cafe).

Video advertising
You can post live ‘unboxing’ and product demonstration videos on AfreecaTV, a popular streaming platform. Another local platform, Tving, allows you to post adverts and integrate products into entertainment shows. Short videos are effectively promoted through Instagram and TikTok content.

Mobile marketing
97% of South Korea's internet users go online via mobile devices, HLTS ltd noted. Therefore, it is important for a business website to have:

• Fast loading time. If your website or online shop loads slowly on a phone, you risk losing customers.
• User-friendly interface. Pages should be easy to navigate, with buttons adapted for touch screens.
• Mobile-friendly adverts. Adverts should be adapted for small screens. Short and precise phrases, simple and vivid visual elements in banners and videos should capture attention quickly.

Personalisation of advertising
Personalisation of advertising in South Korea plays a key role in successful product promotion. South Korean consumers value individual attention, and ads that cater to their preferences and behaviours are more trustworthy. Use localised data to set up targeting by interest, age and lifestyle, and use dynamic creatives that change based on user behaviour. Use retargeting - ads that remind customers of products or pages they've viewed. For example, integrating ads with KakaoTalk allows you to send personalised offers directly into messenger, increasing the likelihood of a response.

Understanding consumer behaviour
For most South Korean users, it is reviews (from loved ones or those who have already bought a product or bloggers) that become the deciding factor when choosing a seller and products. Make reviews easily accessible on your website. Translate texts into Korean without relying on automatic translators. Use keywords in Korean relevant to your business in your adverts.

Discounts and special offers
As in many other countries, sales and promotions are popular in South Korea. Time-limited discounts and exclusive promo codes are of particular interest. Especially popular are seasonal sales or promotions in honour of holidays such as Chuseok or New Year's Eve.

HLTS company has been in the South Korean market for many years and has been helping trade organisations and manufacturers, find partners all over the world. Understanding how Korean consumers react to advertising and which communication formats are trustworthy plays a key role in the success of a dropshipping business. HLTS experts tailor marketing strategies to the interests and tastes of the Korean audience. We offer our partners to join the dropshipping network and use advanced approaches to develop an online shop or offline business.

Adapting advertising campaigns for Korean consumers is more than just translating text. It's about understanding the culture, habits and preferences of customers. By taking into account cultural nuances, using local platforms, a personalised approach and a focus on mobile marketing, you can create successful advertising campaigns and take your dropshipping business to the next level in South Korea.