The state-run Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency said Monday that it will start assisting local firm’ overseas marketing through online social media.

The trade body’s latest move comes as the world’s e-commerce market has been growing rapidly in recent years to reach a size of $9 trillion as of last year, KOTRA said.

KOTRA will promote local information technology companies through social network websites Facebook and LinkedIn as well as video-sharing sites YouTube and Kewego in a bid to attract foreign buyers, it said.

The body said it will also promote local exporters abroad by boosting their exposure on major search engines and Buy Korea, a website it operates to connect buyers with local firms.

It will also support Korean online shopping malls’ entries into the global market by helping them launch websites in local languages, it added.

“We will particularly focus on the U.S., European and Indian markets this year, taking advantage of free trade agreements,” Oh Sung-geun, KOTRA’s executive vice president for marketing, said.

By Koh Young-aah (youngaah@heraldcorp.com)