KOTRA launches college student blog editor program to make overseas business information more accessible

The Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA) held an inaugural ceremony for its new college student blog editor program at its headquarters in Yangjae-dong, Seoul, on Friday, the agency announced Monday. It is the first time KOTRA has operated a blog editor team composed of university students.

Nine college students from across the country will serve as blog editors for seven months, translating market reports and information published on KOTRA's overseas market information portal "Haewae Gyeongje Jeongbo Dream" (overseas economic information dream) into accessible blog posts and card news distributed through their personal blogs.

The editors will also cover KOTRA's major overseas marketing events in person and publish field reports on their blogs — starting with the Seoul International Food Exhibition in June, followed by Boom-Up Korea in October and the Global Market Entry Strategy Forum in December.

Outstanding blog posts will also be produced as short-form video content and distributed across KOTRA's official social media channels, including the KOTRA blog, KOTRA TV and Segye Isyu Toktok.

"This program is designed to help more business people access and make better use of the trade and business information produced by KOTRA's 132 overseas trade offices around the world," a KOTRA official said. "The student editors will present market information in a friendly, consumer-oriented way and share links to the original sources, so anyone can easily access overseas market data and put it to practical use."

Kim Gwan-muk, KOTRA executive vice president and head of the Economic Security and Trade Cooperation Division, said on-the-ground information is critical for small and midsize business owners, but that dense reports are hard to keep up with amid busy schedules. "We want the student editors to serve as a bridge, delivering key information quickly and clearly from the consumer's perspective — boosting how effectively business people use that information, while also giving young people a chance to build practical knowledge and experience in trade," he said.

Meanwhile, KOTRA has been expanding its outreach to youth through various initiatives, including an inaugural ceremony for its "2026 Global Talent Supporters" program held at its Yangjae-dong headquarters in April to broaden global employment opportunities.