Smoothing the Way in China iPark Beijing Makes Life Easier for Korean Businesses Entering China iPark Beijing is the Beijing representative office of the Korea IT Industry Promotion Agency, an affiliated organization of the Ministry of Information and Communication. Its objective is to support the entry of small and mid-sized IT enterprises of Korea into the Chinese market. It operates a moving-in office and provides assistance in seeking business partners and engages in public relations activities in promotion of Korea's IT industry. iPark Beijing opened its office in Zhong Guan Cun in June 2000. Through the conclusion of MOUs with not only China's major IT-related institutions but also many regional governments, it has been pursuing intergovernmental cooperation between Korea and China, including exchanges of information on the IT industry and joint organization of various corporate events. In particular, iPark Beijing has been introducing Korea's latest developments in the IT field, such as online games and mobile services, by participating in numerous events held by local governments, thereby playing a pivotal role in promoting Korea's IT industry in China. Jointly with the Korea IT Industry Promotion Agency, iPark Beijing holds various corporate assistance programs, including local 1:1 business consultations and others of the like. Not only that, it has established a database of over 200 market channels. Assisted by a large pool of local experts with abundant work experience, iPark Beijing has been introducing prospective business partners that could meet the needs of Korean companies. In addition, iPark Beijing has been supporting Korean companies' local operations in China so that they can be better placed on a firm footing for their marketing operations. It provides consultation services for obtaining licenses and introduces local business agents and partners to Korean companies wishing to set up local establishments. Through such effort, iPark Beijing supports Korean companies that are in the initial phase of market entry to be settled down as local business entities as soon as possible. In that sense, iPark Beijing has been providing consultation services by not only IT market experts but also experts on many different fields such as the employment and management of manpower, investment, law, and holding of seminars. Through such efforts, it has been assisting Korean companies to better handle their operations under the local market environment. iPark Beijing has been concentrating on PR works in areas where Korea has relative advantage, including solutions and contents related to DMB, WiBro, and 3G. It has been supporting related enterprises so that they can secure an upper hand for their overseas operations at an early stage. iPark Beijing plans to continue promoting Korea's promising businesses and products to major opinion leaders through various events. At the same time, it plans to utilize major local news media and unfold many-sided PR works to promote Korean companies as genuine business partners, not competitors, for mutual benefits between respective IT businesses of both Korea and China. Moreover, iPark Beijing, with its competitive expertise in the IT field, has been and will continue to operate in close cooperation with such organizations as the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA), the Korea International Trade Association (KITA), and the Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI) that have been actively engaged in local operations in China. In 2005, iPark arranged consultation meetings for Korean IT companies with over 100 local business partners and agents. Business consultations have been continuing ever since. Also, iPark Beijing has been providing direct marketing supports. At the same time, it has been carrying out market surveys and analyses centered on the markets that are being newly formed or rapidly growing in China, including those of 3G, IPTV, and mobile TVs. In addition, iPark Beijing has been supporting the formulation of marketing strategies through such means as the publication of reports and the organization of all types of seminars and forums. This includes arrangement of a number of presentation meetings for Korea's new IT products and technologies to over 150 companies and investors in the region, thereby, heightening the level of awareness and image of Korean products and services. It is already a well-known fact that, especially because of the stiff competition and the growing capital power of Chinese businesses, the barriers to entry into the Chinese market by Korean companies, and particularly small and medium-sized ones, has been solidified. Moreover, this year marks the first year of the eleventh fiveyear (2006-2010) economic plan of China. The Chinese government has announced that it plans to concentrate its efforts in assisting local companies secure core technologies during the five-year period. Amidst such business environment, local companies in China have been growing at a rapid pace, making it ever so difficult for Korean companies to contend for any achievement in the Chinese market based on technologies that are not far ahead. In such circumstances, iPark Beijing plans to step up efforts to provide invaluable marketing information and consulting services, including legal advisory services, so that Korean companies can better cope with the rapidly changing Chinese market. In addition, iPark Beijing plans to exert further efforts in support of the luring of local investment and M&A's and enhance the productivity growth of incumbent services. Also, it plans to engage in marketing activities in support of Korean exports. In 2006, China is expected to issue 3G licenses. As a result, there are high expectations for the development of mobile solutions and value-added services. In relation to this, iPark Beijing plans to concentrate on the marketing of Korean ventures in the fields of 3G, DMB, and Wibro, the services of which Korea has relative advantage. Jointly with the Korea IT Industry Promotion Agency, iPark Beijing plans to carry out such activities as tailor-made market surveys, consultation meetings for investment, opening of local channels, and PR and investor relations events.