“Korean companies have mastered the development of integrated solutions”

Where does Korea stand in printing technology leadership among global manufacturers?

Korea has one of the longest histories of printing innovation, and technology has played the biggest role in helping Korean manufacturers achieve their competencies in R&D, product development and applications. They have gained expertise in the development of integrated solutions through collaboration with the world’s best printing equipment and software companies, rather that manufacturing standalone printing presses or consumables.

Digital technology has become the driver of printing solutions worldwide, and Korean manufacturers follow the same trend. The success of brands such as d-gen and Dilli, which have put Korean technology on the global map, is encouraging local companies to showcase their strengths to the world. We believe that with the right support and guidance, more local Korean brands will be able to gain recognition worldwide and compete with international manufacturers.

What are the challenges and growth opportunities for Korea’s printing industry?

Print is still very much in demand in Korea. Top drivers of the market include books, newspapers, magazines, marketing collateral, carton boxes, flexible packaging, and labels. There’s a wider adoption of hybrid printing for traditional applications, web-to-print, package printing, industrial and functional printing. However, the presence of over 18,000 small printing companies has created excessive capacity which has led to severe competition and below-cost tendering by several competitors. The majority of Korean manufacturers continue to focus on the local market, and language remains one of the biggest barriers to their global expansion.

As the focus shifts from B2B to B2C markets, manufacturing is changing from from mass production to low quantity batch production and customization supported with diverse post-processing techniques, application of various materials, eco-friendly printing, and higher quality standards.

Korea is one of the most wired countries in the world, and its superior IT infrastructure and manufacturing facilities are enabling print service providers to increase efficiency and explore the full potential of web-to-print. The existing infrastructure and human resources along with more automation can help Korean companies reduce their fixed costs and achieve lower production costs than in other developed countries.

What strategy should Korean companies adopt to achieve global competitive advantage?

Korean printing companies need to adopt a blue ocean strategy for their businesses. Future growth lies in niche markets where high-value products can be sold in small quantities. The focus should be creating new opportunities with customization, personalization, and web-to-print. Manufacturers and service providers must invest more in process optimization and workflow automation.

It is equally important to master the art of marketing and communication to a global audience. As companies pursue global ambitions, it is important to understand the specific characteristics of each market, regulations, and customer behaviours. We urge companies to seek expertise to get training on export markets, product planning, and promotion.Also, there needs to be more industry-academia collaboration to share information and upgrade skills.

What’s KPTA’s role in supporting Korea’s printing sector?

The Korea Printing Technology Association (KPTA) helps Korean manufacturers expand first within the Korean market, and then introduce their technology and brands to global markets. In particular, we focus on assisting SMEs from rural areas in Korea which do not have the marketing and training resources and experience in gathering market intelligence and promoting their brands.

To achieve this, we collaborate closely with several other Korean printing associations and government bodies to organize training seminars and conferences to educate them about ISO standards and help them comply with all other international standards. In addition, we guide them on sustainability, intellectual property, patents, and rights.