Prioritize measurable KPIs and infrastructure: WMS with API/EDI, pick-and-pack throughput, racking density, refrigerated capacity if needed, flexible labor shifts, SLA for order lead times, reverse logistics processes, and real-time inventory visibility to manage seasonal spikes without increasing inventory days on hand.

A Gwangju facility typically lowers transit times for southwest Korea and shortens handoffs to nearby ports and Muan Airport for certain export lanes; however, shipments to northeast metros may see modest increases. Use transit-time matrices and zone-based cost models to quantify tradeoffs for your SKU mix and customer geography.

Require a WMS with scalable SKU handling, real-time inventory APIs, OMS integration, carrier connectivity, barcode/RFID support and automated picking metrics. Insist on daily/weekly operational dashboards showing OTIF, pick accuracy, inventory turns and labor productivity so you can track scaling performance.

Yes—many providers offer temperature-controlled storage, bonded/customs support and secure warehousing. Verify certifications and controls such as temperature mapping and monitoring, HACCP or GDP for regulated goods, customs bonded status, ISO 9001 for quality and documented SOPs for traceability.