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Storefront Localization Playbook

Localize App Store Keywords: Japan to South Korea

Playbook for expanding App Store keywords from Japan to South Korea. Covers secondary indexing rules, script expansion (1.8x), and metadata tips.

Cross-Storefront Blueprint & Indexing Rules

Expanding from Japan to South Korea shifts your primary keyword language from Japanese to Korean. Text length expands by ~80%.

  • •Origin Market: Japan (JP)
  • •Destination Market: South Korea (KR)
  • •Script Expansion Factor: 1.8x
  • •Secondary Indexing: South Korea indexes Korean (Hangul).

Metadata Translation & Character Strategy

Title (30 chars)

Place the primary Korean high-demand search term in your 30-character App Title.

Subtitle (30 chars)

Reinforce secondary intent and benefits in Korean within 30 characters.

Keyword Field (100 chars)

Fill the 100-character keyword field with comma-separated, single root words in Korean without spaces after commas.

Localization Checklist

  • ✓Check Apple's secondary language indexing rules for South Korea.
  • ✓Account for script expansion: Expands by ~80% when translating from Japanese to Korean.
  • ✓Verify Apple Search Ads popularity for target keywords directly in the South Korea storefront.
  • ✓Audit top-ranking local competitor subtitles in South Korea before finalizing your 100-character field.

Cross-Market Indexing Rules & Script Density

When taking an app successful in Japan into South Korea, the biggest mistake is direct literal translation. Search intent is cultural, not purely grammatical.

South Korea indexes Korean (Hangul).

Script expansion factor is 1.8x (Expands by ~80%). In a 30-character title limit, every character counts.

Common Pitfalls to Avoid in South Korea

Both markets are mobile-first with high gaming and productivity demand.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Apple automatically translate my keywords from Japan for South Korea?
No. Apple does not translate metadata across languages. If you do not provide dedicated Korean metadata, users searching in South Korea will only find you if they type in Japanese or if secondary indexing applies.
How do I verify search volume in South Korea?
Use ASOGrade's South Korea storefront selector. It reads Apple Search Ads demand scores calibrated directly to local search behavior in South Korea.

Other Localization Playbooks

Score keywords for South Korea

Analyze Apple Search Ads demand and difficulty for South Korea directly in your browser.

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