Asian ccTLDs: .jp, .cn, .kr, .in, .th

## Asia's ccTLD Landscape Asia's internet growth story is inseparable from its ccTLD ecosystem. The region hosts some of the world's largest ccTLD markets — `.cn` with over 22 million registrations, `.jp` with 2.7 million despite strict restrictions, `.in` growing rapidly with India's digital boom — as well as some of the most tightly controlled and politically complex domain systems anywhere in the world. TLD Finder ## .jp — Japan's Precision Registry Japan Registry Services (JPRS) operates `.jp` with the kind of meticulous attention to process and documentation that characterizes Japanese institutional life. `.jp` is one of Asia's most respected ccTLD (Country-Code Top-Level Domain) registries in terms of governance quality, DNSSEC implementation, and registrant protection. **Registration requirements:** `.jp` maintains meaningful Restricted TLD policies. Organizations can register under `co.jp` (companies), `or.jp` (non-profits), `go.jp` (government), and other structured second-level domains, each with specific documentation requirements proving the registrant's legitimacy. Since 2001, JPRS also offers generic `.jp` registrations (directly at the third level, like `example.jp`) to individuals and organizations with a Japanese address. Foreign companies without a Japanese office cannot register `.jp` directly. **Pricing:** `.jp` domains are among Asia's most expensive: `co.jp` runs approximately ¥7,000–¥10,000 (roughly $50–70 USD) per year. The cost reflects both JPRS's operational quality and the demand from Japanese businesses for a trusted namespace. **Market characteristics:** Japanese consumers show exceptionally strong ccTLD preference. Major Japanese brands — Sony, Toyota, Rakuten, SoftBank — build their primary digital presence on `.jp`. Domestic e-commerce sites on `.jp` consistently outperform the same businesses on `.com` in Japanese organic search results. **IDN coverage:** Japan was an early adopter of IDN TLD (Internationalized Domain Name TLD) infrastructure, operating Japanese-script equivalents of the structured second-level domains (`.jp` in Katakana). These IDN registrations allow email addresses and URLs to be typed entirely in Japanese characters, important for accessibility among less tech-savvy internet users. ## .cn — China's Regulated Market The `.cn` registry is operated by China Internet Network Information Center (CNNIC), an agency under the direct authority of the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC). With approximately **22 million registrations**, `.cn` is one of the world's largest ccTLDs by volume — but its governance environment is unlike any other major registry. **Registration requirements:** Registering a `.cn` domain requires substantial documentation: a copy of the registrant's business license (for organizations) or national ID (for individuals), a headshot photograph of the contact person, and completion of a verification process administered by a CNNIC-authorized registrar. Foreign companies must submit documentation proving their legal existence in their home country. The process typically takes 3–5 business days, much longer than most registries. **The ICP filing requirement:** Beyond domain registration, operating a website on `.cn` (or on any domain hosted on servers in mainland China) requires obtaining an ICP (Internet Content Provider) license or ICP filing (备案, bèi'àn) from Chinese authorities. Without an ICP filing, web hosting providers in China will not activate the server. This requirement creates a significant barrier for foreign entities and means that even successfully registering `.cn` does not automatically allow you to operate a Chinese-hosted website. **Content restrictions:** Websites on `.cn` are subject to China's internet content regulations, which prohibit a wide range of content and require filtering. See .cn: Navigating China's Controlled Domain Space for a detailed treatment of the Chinese domain environment. **Alternative Chinese ccTLDs:** China also operates IDN TLD (Internationalized Domain Name TLD) equivalents: `.中国` (China in simplified Chinese) and `.中國` (China in traditional Chinese), delegated by IANA as IDN ccTLDs. These allow entirely Chinese-character web addresses. ## .kr — South Korea's Dynamic Market Korea Internet and Security Agency (KISA) operates `.kr` through its subsidiary KrRegistry. South Korea has one of the world's highest internet penetration rates (97%+) and a highly competitive domestic tech sector. **Registration requirements:** `.kr` is open to individuals and organizations worldwide, making it less restrictive than `.jp` or `.cn`. There is no residency requirement for generic `.kr` registrations, though structured second-level domains like `co.kr` (companies) require proof of Korean business registration. Most foreign registrants use generic `.kr`. **Market size:** `.kr` hosts approximately **2 million registrations**, modest for a country of 52 million. Korean internet users show strong preference for domestic platforms — Naver dominates search (over 50% market share vs. Google's roughly 30%), and Korean social commerce platforms drive significant web traffic — but the domain market is smaller than Korea's internet penetration would suggest, partly because Korean consumers use app-based services that reduce the need for distinct domain registrations. **IDN:** Korea operates `.한국` (Korea in Hangul script) as an IDN TLD (Internationalized Domain Name TLD), allowing Korean-script domain names. **Pricing:** `.kr` domains are economical at approximately ₩22,000 ($15–17 USD) per year for generic registrations. ## .in — India's Growing Digital Ecosystem The National Internet Exchange of India (NIXI), through its INRegistry arm, operates `.in`. India's domain market is at an inflection point: internet penetration has grown from 34% in 2019 to over 55% in 2026, driven by cheap data plans, smartphone proliferation, and government digital initiatives. **Open registration:** `.in` is completely open — no residency requirement, no documentation, no local presence. Any individual or organization worldwide can register a `.in` domain immediately. This openness has helped `.in` accumulate approximately **4 million registrations**, a figure growing at double-digit percentages annually. **Market dynamics:** Unlike Japan or South Korea, India has no single dominant local search engine — Google holds roughly 97% of the Indian search market. This means TLD SEO Impact arguments for `.in` are less about defeating a domestic competitor and more about building trust with Indian consumers who associate `.in` with local businesses. **Startup ecosystem:** India's booming startup ecosystem is one of `.in`'s growth drivers. Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Mumbai have developed dense startup clusters, and Indian founders increasingly choose `.in` as their primary domain to signal their Indian identity and local focus. Flipkart, India's largest e-commerce platform before its Walmart acquisition, built its brand on `flipkart.com`, but many newer Indian startups default to `.in`. **IDN:** India operates multiple IDN TLD (Internationalized Domain Name TLD)s corresponding to official languages of the Indian constitution, including `.भारत` (Bharat in Devanagari), `.ভারত` (in Bengali script), and others. The multilingual complexity of the Indian internet is significant: the country recognizes 22 official languages across several distinct scripts. **Pricing:** `.in` registrations are typically ₹700–1,200 ($8–14 USD) per year, among Asia's most affordable. ## .th — Thailand's Controlled Registry The Thai Network Information Center Foundation (THNIC) operates `.th`. Thailand's domain market reflects the country's dual character: a sophisticated urban internet culture in Bangkok alongside a predominantly mobile-first rural population. **Registration requirements:** `.th` is strictly Restricted TLD. Registrants must provide documentation proving their connection to Thailand — a Thai ID card for individuals, or a Thai business registration certificate for organizations. Foreign companies without a Thai presence cannot register `.th` directly. **Second-level structure:** `.th` maintains a structured second-level system: `co.th` for companies, `ac.th` for academic institutions, `go.th` for government, `or.th` for non-profits, and `net.th` for network providers. Direct third-level registrations under `.th` are available but less common than in some other markets. **Market size:** `.th` has approximately **600,000 registrations** — small for a country of 70 million, but consistent with the strict eligibility requirements and Thailand's relatively recent acceleration in business digitization. **Pricing:** `.co.th` registrations cost approximately ฿900–1,500 ($25–40 USD) per year, reflecting the documentation overhead and relatively small registry size. ## Comparative Overview | Registry | Operator | Volume | Foreign access | Key restriction | |----------|----------|--------|---------------|-----------------| | `.cn` | CNNIC | 22M | Via documentation | ICP filing for hosting | | `.jp` | JPRS | 2.7M | Japanese address required | Local presence mandatory | | `.in` | NIXI | 4M | Open worldwide | None | | `.kr` | KISA | 2M | Open worldwide | — | | `.th` | THNIC | 0.6M | Thai entity only | Documentation-intensive | ## Strategic Takeaways For international businesses entering Asian markets, the registration path for each ccTLD reflects the broader market entry complexity. China's `.cn` mirrors China's regulatory environment — achievable but documentation-heavy with ongoing compliance requirements. Japan's `.jp` requires genuine local presence, which maps well to the reality that succeeding in the Japanese market almost always requires meaningful local operations anyway. India's `.in` is the most accessible Asian ccTLD for foreign registrants, reflecting India's more open FDI policies. In all five markets, however, the TLD Trust Signal benefit of using the local ccTLD versus `.com` is real and measurable. See ccTLD SEO: International Targeting Implications for analysis of how these trust dynamics translate into search ranking and conversion differences.