The trend reflects a broader shift, as businesses across industries—ranging from restaurants and cafes to delivery services and recruitment—embrace short-form videos for their intuitive ability to combine information and entertainment in seconds. (Image courtesy of PxHere/CCL)
SEOUL, Nov. 25 (Korea Bizwire) – Short-form videos are emerging as a powerful tool for promoting local businesses in South Korea, offering an engaging alternative to traditional blog-based updates. Small-sized businesses, in particular, see increasing opportunities in this trend.
For example, an interior design contractor in the Seoul metropolitan area reported a surge in client inquiries after using the short-form video feature, Daangn Story, offered by the popular community platform Daangn Market.
The trend reflects a broader shift, as businesses across industries—ranging from restaurants and cafes to delivery services and recruitment—embrace short-form videos for their intuitive ability to combine information and entertainment in seconds.
Daangn Market recently expanded its Daangn Story service beyond Seoul to cover the greater metropolitan area, including Incheon and Gyeonggi Province.
Unlike traditional short-form platforms that lack geographic specificity, Daangn Story targets local residents, enhancing its appeal to small businesses seeking to connect with nearby customers.
Restaurants dominate the platform, accounting for 35% of uploaded videos as of November 21, followed by beauty and personal care services (15%), lifestyle services such as interior design and moving (12%), and fitness-related content (10%).
Business-related video uploads on the platform rose by 40% in October compared to the previous month, according to Daangn.
The popularity of food-related short-form content is mirrored across other platforms. A recent report by market research firm OpenSurvey found that 44.1% of Instagram users watched short-form food content in 2023, up from 29.6% last year.
Similarly, YouTube short-form viewers of food-related content rose by 10.3 percentage points to 33.8% during the same period.
Daangn Story, offered by the popular community platform Daangn Market. (Image provided by Daangn Market)
In response to the growing demand for short-form video marketing, tech companies are developing tools to streamline production. Naver, South Korea’s leading internet company, is piloting Place Clip, an AI-powered solution on its SmartPlace platform.
Using its generative AI, HyperCLOVA X, Naver analyzes business information and customer reviews to draft video scripts, which owners can customize with photos, templates, and music for seamless short-form video creation.
Naver’s beta testing for Place Clip will run through December, after which the company will decide whether to launch the service officially.
The global short-form video market, valued at $40 billion this year, is expected to grow at an average annual rate of 60% over the next five years, according to market research firm Statista. As this dynamic medium gains momentum, it is reshaping how businesses communicate with their audiences, offering creative and cost-effective ways to drive engagement.
Ashley Song (ashley@koreabizwire.com)
