– Overseas user numbers have increased for three consecutive quarters since the global service launch
– From K-Beauty, merchandise, and fashion to e-books and online classes… Transactions have been processed in over 40 countries, including the U.S., Japan, and China
– Global tech brands are launching one after another… Emerging as a platform for innovative overseas companies to enter the Korean market
Wadiz(CEO Shin Hye-seong, www.wadiz.kr) announced that in January of this year, its monthly active users (MAU) increased 2.5-fold year-over-year and its overseas transaction volume grew more than eightfold, establishing itself as a platform for domestic small businesses and emerging brands to expand into global markets.
The key driver of this growth is the steady increase in overseas users since the global launch of the service last May. In particular, overseas visitors have been growing rapidly, especially in the United States, Japan, and China; as of January of this year, approximately 40% of total MAUs were from overseas. As a result, actual payments are being made in over 40 countries, demonstrating tangible results from the global service.
In addition, an average of about 100 funding projects per month are entering overseas markets through Wadiz, driving growth in global transaction volume.
By category, K-Beauty (21%), K-Goods (19%), and K-Fashion (18%) accounted for more than half of the total overseas transaction volume and drove growth. Official merchandise crowdfunding campaigns for dramas such as tvN’s “The Chef of the Tyrant” and SBS’s “Model Taxi 3” drew significant interest, with global fan communities from more than 20 countries participating.
In addition, the “Beauty Devices” and “Everyday Hanbok” projects continued to attract participation from consumers in English-speaking countries, demonstrating Korea’s unique technological capabilities and design competitiveness.
Global participation is growing not only in consumer goods but also in content projects such as e-books and online courses. The crowdfunding campaign for “Digital Drawing Brushes and Classes” attracted supporters from 12 countries across Asia, North America, and Europe, demonstrating its global reach that extends beyond any single country. This confirms that Wadizhas established itself as a gateway for the global expansion of K-funding, encompassing both consumer goods and content.
Meanwhile, Wadizis also expanding its role as a platform that helps overseas brands enter the Korean market. It recently opened offices in Tokyo and Shenzhen to strengthen its efforts to discover global manufacturers and expand its collaborative network.
In fact, global tech products such as the AI smartphone "MindOne," the AI wearable robot "HyperShell," and the AI glasses "Leion Hey2" have been successfully launched one after another Wadiz, establishing the platform as a "launchpad" for innovative international brands entering the Korean market.
A Wadiz spokesperson said, “The rapid growth in monthly active users (MAU) and overseas transaction volume is a significant indicator that domestic makers are connecting directly with global consumers through Wadiz,” adding, “We will continue to strengthen our role as a global platform so that more K-innovation makers can use Wadizas a springboard to enter the global market.”
