eXp Realty, the Nasdaq-listed real estate brokerage, has expanded into South Korea, marking its fifth international launch of the year and its second in Asia after Japan.
The company, which is headquartered in Bellingham, Washington, describes itself as the world’s largest independent brokerage.
It has also recently entered Peru, Türkiye and Ecuador as it pushes towards its 2030 goal of recruiting 50,000 agents outside the US and building a presence in at least 50 countries.
Unlike traditional brokerages in Korea, which rely on fixed offices and hierarchical structures, eXp operates what it calls an AI-native, borderless platform. The model, it says, gives agents more autonomy by allowing them to run their businesses remotely, share in stock ownership and tap into international referrals.
EMPOWERING AGENTS
Felix Bravo (main picture, inset), Managing Director, International at eXp Realty, says: “Most brokerages in Korea are running on an old model, built for the boss, not the agent.
“And they’re doing exactly what they were designed to do: control agents, limit upside, and protect the hierarchy. You’ve got people putting up real numbers, doing international business from their phones, and they’re still stuck under office quotas and legacy rules.
“That’s not a system you fix. It’s one you replace. We’re not here to compete with that model, we’re here to end it. And to give agents a platform that finally sees them as the business.”
REAL CHANCE
The South Korean business will be led by Thomas Kim, an award-winning producer in the country’s traditional brokerage system.
He says: “I know what it’s like to build a career inside a traditional brokerage and how limiting that can be.
“eXp gives Korean agents what I never had: a real chance to grow through sales, team building, stock ownership, and even global referrals.
“But more importantly, it’s growth that benefits them, not just the brokerage. This is a platform where the agent finally comes first.”
A launch event is being held today in Seoul, where company leaders will set out how South Korea fits into eXp’s broader Asia-Pacific growth strategy.
