Sojinkong and Korea Chamber of Commerce Sign Business Agreement for International Standard Barcode Implementation

The Small Enterprise and Market Service announced on the 17th that it has signed a business agreement with the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry to mutually cooperate in applying the GS1 international standard barcode to products supplied to small and medium distribution logistics centers nationwide.

The GS1 international standard barcode is a 'product identification barcode' used across all industries including distribution logistics, providing functions to easily verify distributed products and their product classification codes, product names, brand names, contents, units, and countries of distribution.

On the 16th, Park Seonghyo, Chairman of Sojin-gong (left), and Park Iljun, Executive Vice Chairman of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (right), are taking a commemorative photo at the business agreement ceremony. (Photo by So-sang Gongin Jinheung Gongdan)

The signing ceremony held on the 16th at the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry EC Room was attended by Park Seong-hyo, Chairman of the Small Enterprise and Market Service, Hwang Mi-ae, Executive Director, Park Il-jun, Executive Vice Chairman of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and other officials from both organizations.

Small and medium distribution logistics centers were established to reduce distribution logistics costs for local small business owners, including neighborhood supermarkets. Until now, due to the lack of an integrated data management system, each small and medium distribution logistics center conducted small-scale ordering and receiving individually, limiting purchasing power.

However, through this agreement, products based on the standard barcode will be introduced into the integrated logistics system of small and medium distribution logistics centers, enabling recognition and analysis of identical products within domestic and international supply chains, thereby allowing efficient data management on a nationwide scale.

In particular, by combining product information with sales data, 'pinpoint analysis' such as sales status and consumer trend analysis will become possible. Additionally, when exporting overseas or utilizing various distribution channels, the existing standard barcode can be used without separate modification procedures, which is expected to be advantageous for pioneering new sales routes.

Both organizations plan to hold DB matching and introduction briefing sessions for logistics centers starting in June, and after automating product DB linkage installation from October, they will operate a full-scale barcode verification service.

Park Seong-hyo, Chairman of the Small Enterprise and Market Service, stated, “With this business agreement with the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry, nationwide online ordering and joint purchasing will become possible, which is expected to reduce the cost burden on small business owners.” He added, “Going forward, the Small Enterprise and Market Service will actively support small business owners to improve operational efficiency and sales by collaborating with various organizations.”