SEOUL — A stark divide has emerged in the global smart home market as Chinese home appliance manufacturers rapidly consolidate their influence through the "Matter" standard, while South Korean representation remains alarmingly sparse.

According to an exhaustive analysis of the Distributed Compliance Ledger (DCL) provided by the Connectivity Standards Alliance (Alliance) on March 15, Chinese firms now account for nearly 40% of all Matter-certified companies globally. Of the 402 certified entities, 149 are based in China (130 from the mainland and 19 from Hong Kong). When including Chinese-origin firms with U.S. headquarters, such as TP-Link and Tuya, the dominance becomes even more pronounced.

In contrast, South Korea's presence in this critical ecosystem is dwindling. Only nine Korean companies, including industry giants Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics, have secured Matter certification. The list of smaller participants includes Samjin, Kumho Electric, Solity, Sinus Soft, Shindonga ES, Wintech, and Mamaba. Notably, not a single mid-sized Korean appliance manufacturer has joined the ranks.

 
A Global Lag in Connectivity
The data reveals that South Korea is falling behind not only the U.S. (81 companies) and Germany (43 companies) but also smaller markets such as Taiwan (14), the Netherlands (13), and Japan (10).

While Chinese brands like Xiaomi, Midea, Hisense, Roborock, and Anker have all achieved certification, the movement in China extends far beyond household names. More than 100 Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) based in tech hubs like Shenzhen and Hangzhou are flooding the market with Matter-certified lighting, plugs, smart locks, and curtain motors.

This trend is mirrored in the West, where the ecosystem is diversifying. In the U.S., Amazon, Apple, and Google are joined by security firm ADT and HVAC specialist Lennox. In Germany, the participation spans from Bosch to automation experts and major carriers like Deutsche Telekom. Even furniture giants like IKEA have secured certification to ensure their products remain relevant in a connected home.

The New "Barrier to Entry"
Industry experts warn that Matter certification is no longer a mere technical badge—it has become a mandatory gateway to the global market. Tech titans like Amazon and Google are restructuring their platforms to prioritize Matter-certified devices in search results and compatibility lists. Without this certification, entering global retail platforms is becoming increasingly difficult, if not impossible.

As "connectivity" and "interoperability" become the primary drivers for consumer choice, the absence of Korean products in the Matter ecosystem could lead to a significant loss in export competitiveness.

Call for Strategic Expansion
The domestic Korean appliance market has reached a point of saturation, making overseas expansion a necessity for survival. "To overcome the slump in the domestic market, small and mid-sized Korean appliance firms must utilize international standards like Matter to broaden their reach into the global smart home sector," an industry insider noted.

The current landscape suggests that unless Korean mid-sized firms pivot quickly toward these global standards, they risk being sidelined by the "Smart Home Great Leap Forward" currently led by China.

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