Taobao, Tmall recruit Korean e-commerce experts for expansion

[Courtesy of Alibaba Group]

Taobao and Tmall, major players in China’s e-commerce market, have officially established a presence in South Korea and are now actively recruiting local e-commerce experts.

Taobao and Tmall, which are the top two e-commerce platforms in China, aim to enhance their market penetration in Korea, leveraging the significant number of Korean consumers who already engage in direct purchases from China through these platforms.

According to industry sources, Taobao and Tmall Group are currently hiring for Tmall Global Korea, specifically seeking professionals with at least two years of experience in investment attraction within the e-commerce or brand sectors. Candidates must be fluent in both Korean and Chinese.

The primary responsibilities of these new hires will include building strong, long-term partnerships with strategic partners, brands, and government entities within the Korean market.

Additionally, they will be tasked with providing cross-border e-commerce solutions for new brands entering the platform, ensuring their successful integration into Tmall.

This recruitment drive is seen as a strategic move to accelerate Taobao and Tmall’s expansion in Korea.

As part of Alibaba Group, Taobao and Tmall boast a combined gross merchandise volume (GMV) of around 1,900 trillion won ($1.39 trillion) annually.

Taobao is known for offering lower-priced goods, while Tmall specializes in products from certified brands, presenting a competitive edge over AliExpress products in terms of product quality.

Many Korean consumers already use these platforms for direct purchases from China due to the attractive pricing of Taobao’s offerings. Some even utilize proxy purchasing services to acquire goods from Taobao.

Additionally, some sellers on Korean online marketplaces source inexpensive products from Taobao, applying a markup for resale.

The recruitment efforts of Taobao and Tmall come on the heels of similar initiatives by AliExpress and Temu, causing concern within the Korean e-commerce industry.

Last year, AliExpress aggressively hired Korean market specialists in fresh food, fashion, and beauty, offering salaries two to three times higher than the industry average.

The entry of Taobao and Tmall into this competitive hiring landscape is expected to further accelerate the outflow of Korean e-commerce talent to Chinese firms.

There is also speculation that Taobao and Tmall might establish their own logistics networks and begin direct sales in Korea.