The Platform SME Research Center (hereinafter referred to as the Research Center) is a research institute under Kookmin University's Industry-Academic Cooperation Center that researches and educates on platform ecosystems and the digital entrepreneurs who operate on them. We spoke with Dr. Dohyun Kim, Director of the Platform SME Research Center at Kookmin University (Dean of the Graduate School of Global Entrepreneurship and Venture and Professor of Business Administration), to learn more about the center's values, activities, and vision.

Photo by Dr. Do-Hyun Kim, Center for Platform SME Research, Kookmin University (Dean of the Graduate School of Global Entrepreneurship and Venture, Kookmin University, and Professor of Business Administration

Q. What are the core values of the research center?

The 1.7 million digital merchants are now the centerpiece of our economy. The Center strives to help them grow and build a healthy platform ecosystem.

The Center collects and analyzes a wide range of data to provide a multi-dimensional view of the platform ecosystem. We closely understand the interaction between platform companies and digital merchants, the value creation process, and the competition structure, and make policy recommendations and support measures to build a healthy ecosystem.

Digital merchants are not just platform service users, but are deeply involved in our daily lives. The research center aims to discover their success stories to improve social awareness and encourage more people to follow the path of digital merchants. We will run training programs for digital merchants to strengthen their expertise and increase their competitiveness. We will also analyze platform companies and other participants in the platform ecosystem to provide advice, including policy recommendations. The Platform SME Research Center will contribute to building a healthy digital platform ecosystem and support the success of digital merchants.

Q. What kind of digital merchants are we talking about in the research center?

Digital-Small and Medium Enterprise (D-SME) refers to merchants who conduct business activities based on digital platforms, and can include everything from small businesses to corporations. Examples include businesses on online commerce platforms such as NAVER Smart Store, and restaurants using delivery platforms such as Delivery Nation. According to the research center's analysis, there are about 1.7 million digital merchants in Korea.

Anyone can become a digital merchant. The Ministry of SMEs and Startups has defined 'entrepreneurial small businesses' as small businesses that create new added value through innovation in the field of lifestyle and culture, such as ceremonial liquor. The Research Center calls them 'digital merchants', especially those who operate their businesses using digital platforms. While a startup is more of a journey to find a repeatable and scalable business model based on innovation, digital merchants are those who conduct business activities based on digital platforms. The research center is working to help these digital merchants grow and build a healthy platform ecosystem.

Q. What kind of business does the R&D Center do?

The center's main business is conducting 'top-level courses'. The "Kookmin University Graduate School of Global Entrepreneurship and Venture, D-SME Top Course" is held in the second half of every year and is hosted by Kookmin University Graduate School of Global Entrepreneurship and Venture, led by the Platform SME Research Center, and sponsored by NAVER. The top-level course has produced graduates who have grown into global companies such as d'Alba, MBX, and GENIE THE BOTTLE.

In the research department, we publish infographics based on quantitative data, case reports based on interviews, and hold related seminars.

Q. Please tell us about your future plans or vision

The 1.7 million digital entrepreneurs are now the centerpiece of our economy. The Research Center is working to help them grow and build a healthy platform ecosystem.

The center collects and analyzes various data to look at the platform ecosystem from multiple angles. We closely understand the interaction between platform companies and digital merchants, the value creation process, and the competition structure, and make policy recommendations and support measures to build a healthy ecosystem.

Digital merchants are not just platform service users, but are deeply involved in our daily lives. The research center aims to discover their success stories to improve social awareness and encourage more people to follow the path of digital merchants. We will run training programs for digital merchants to strengthen their expertise and increase their competitiveness, and analyze platform companies and other participants in the platform ecosystem to provide advice, including policy recommendations.

The Platform SME Research Center will contribute to building a healthy digital platform ecosystem and support the success of digital merchants.

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