Ministry of Trade Industry and Resources

Roundtable with Korean Companies Operating in Egypt

Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR, Minister JK Kim) held a meeting with Korean companies operating in Egypt at the Ambassador’s Residence in Cairo on January 18, 2026. Participants included representatives from Samsung Electronics, LG Electronics, Hyundai Rotem, Hanwha Aerospace, Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), TP Inc., Dana Petroleum, and Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP). During the meeting, Trade Minister Yeo heard business concerns and requests related to financing and streamlined administrative procedures, and discussed practical measures for addressing operational challenges in a timely manner. date2026-01-20

Trade Minister Yeo Visits the Sokhna Industrial Zone in Egypt

Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR, Minister JK Kim) visited the Sokhna Industrial Zone and the adjacent Sokhna Port within the Suez Canal Economic Zone in Egypt on January 18, 2026, to review the local investment environment for Korean companies operating in Egypt. The delegation included representatives of Korean companies operating in Egypt, officials from KOTRA, and experts from the Korea Institute for International Economic Policy (KIEP). Trade Minister Yeo noted that “MOTIR plans to strengthen support for Korean companies’ expansion into Egypt by providing essential market-entry information, including an investment guidebook reflecting the findings from the recent visit to the Suez Canal Economic Zone.” date2026-01-20

Free Economic Zones See Strong Growth in Foreign-Invested Companies, Employment, and Investment

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR, Minister JK Kim) announced the results of the 2024 survey on businesses located in Free Economic Zones (FEZs), a nationally approved statistical survey jointly conducted with nine FEZ authorities since 2017. The survey provides a comprehensive overview of businesses operating in FEZs, covering investment status, employment, business activities (including sales, procurement, R&D, and production), the business environment and access to support programs, and operational challenges. According to the survey, Korea’s FEZs continued to expand in 2024, posting solid growth in the number of foreign-invested companies, employment, and investment, underscoring their role as key growth hubs for regional economies. Major indicators across the survey pointed to a favorable trend, with the number of foreign-invested companies in FEZs rising 8.2 percent year-on-year, while employment and investment increased 8.8 percent and 14.4 percent, respectively. As of 2024, a total of 8,590 companies were operating in FEZs, up 4.4 percent from the previous year. By region, Incheon accounted for 44.9 percent of the total, followed by Busan–Jinhae (28.4 percent) and Daegu–Gyeongbuk (12.2 percent). Notably, the number of tenant companies rose sharply in Gwangju (up 107 percent), Chungbuk (up 24 percent), and Gyeonggi (up 10 percent). Reflecting the increase in tenant companies, total employment in FEZs reached 254,775, marking an 8.8 percent rise from a year earlier. This growth significantly outpaced the nationwide increase in the employment rate (up 0.1 percentage points). Total investment in FEZs amounted to KRW 5.9 trillion (up 14.4 percent), while total sales reached KRW 189.7 trillion (up 2.0 percent), contributing greatly to regional economic activity. The number of foreign-invested companies operating in FEZs totaled 690 in 2024, an increase of 8.2 percent from the previous year. Of these, 84.6 percent were located in Incheon (53.2 percent) and Busan–Jinhae (31.4 percent), with Incheon recording particularly strong growth of 18 percent. Employment at foreign-invested companies stood at 57,389 (up 1.4 percent). Investment by these companies reached KRW 3.8 trillion (up 4.3 percent), while sales rose to KRW 56.2 trillion (up 11.6 percent), demonstrating steady momentum. FEZs are pursuing five-year development plans focused on building regional innovation ecosystems by fostering core strategic industries tailored to local strengths. In 2024, the number of companies in these core industries increased by 6.8 percent from the previous year. Employment in these sectors surged 27.0 percent, and sales rose 17.2 percent, marking robust growth. Je Kyung-hee, Director General of the Free Economic Zone Planning Office, noted that “despite challenging conditions, FEZs have sustained steady growth and continue to serve as key hubs for foreign investment and regional economic development.” She added that “the government will continue to develop and implement policies tailored to regional and industry-specific needs to support further investment and business activity.” date2026-01-20

Korea to Establish Largest-Ever Integrated Pavilion at CES 2026

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR, Minister JK Kim) and the Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS, Minister Han Seong-sook) announced that they will engage in a whole-of-government collaboration to establish the largest-ever Korea Pavilion at CES 2026 (Consumer Electronics Show), to be held in Las Vegas in the United States, from January 6 to 9, 2026 (Tuesday to Friday).   CES is a leading global exhibition showcasing cutting-edge technologies in IT and consumer electronics. Under the theme “Innovators Show Up,” CES 2026 is expected to feature a wide range of innovative products and services applying AI technologies across sectors, including consumer electronics, mobility, and healthcare.   The exhibition will bring together approximately 4,500 companies from more than 150 countries. Korea will be represented by around 1,000 companies, ranging from major conglomerates such as Samsung, LG, Hyundai, and SK to innovative SMEs and promising startups with advanced technologies.   This year, centered on MOTIR’s Integrated Korea Pavilion and MSS’s K-Startup Integrated Pavilion, the government will build and operate a Korea Pavilion with unified booth designs, logos, and other branding elements, involving 38 organizations and 470 companies. Through large-scale national pavilion operations and “Korea Premium” marketing, the initiative is expected to enhance the effectiveness of participating Korean companies’ export marketing efforts.   Participating companies will be offered business networking opportunities with global firms—including Walmart and Intel—through a series of programs, such as an on-site expert seminar on January 5, technology demonstration sessions on January 6 and January 9, and the K-Innovation Pitching Challenge from January 7 to 8.    Meanwhile, according to the first-round results of the CES Innovation Awards announced in early November by the Consumer Technology Association (CTA), 168 Korean companies were named among the 284 overall award-winning companies.   Despite intense competition with more than 3,600 products submitted this year, Korea ranked first in the number of award recipients for the third consecutive year, once again demonstrating its global technological competitiveness on the international stage.   More than 80 percent of the 168 Korean award-winning companies were SMEs, totaling 137 firms. With AI expected to be the core theme of CES this year, Korean companies not only swept all three Best of Innovation Awards in the AI category, but also recorded the highest number of Innovation Awards, with 28 awards.   Minister Kim noted, “Amid intensifying competition for technological leadership in AI, CES—the world’s premier showcase of innovative technologies—will be an opportunity for Korean companies to demonstrate their technological capabilities and potential.” He added, “The government will actively provide support to ensure that innovation translates into export outcomes.”   Minister Han stated, “By delivering strong results at CES 2026, Korea’s venture and startup companies have made a clear impression on the global stage that Korea has the technological capabilities to lead future markets.” She added, “The government will continue to support innovative companies so that they can leverage CES as a stepping stone to expand globally.” date2026-01-05

Industrial Technology Workforce Reaches 1.74 Million, Posting Growth for a Fourth Consecutive Year

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR, Minister JK Kim) announced the results of the 2025 Survey on Supply and Demand of the Industrial Technology Workforce, which was conducted by the Korea Institute for Advancement of Technology (KIAT) from August 11 to October 24, 2025. The survey covered 21,327 sampled business establishments nationwide with 10 or more employees and collected data on workforce levels and shortages by industry, occupation, and region, as well as recruitment, hiring, and employee separations during 2024. According to the findings, the total industrial technology workforce reached approximately 1.74 million, representing a 1.1 percent increase from 1.72 million in the previous year and marking the fourth consecutive year of growth. Employment in the twelve key industries totaled approximately 1.16 million workers, accounting for 66.6 percent of the overall industrial technology workforce. The semiconductor (up 4.3 percent) and bio-health (up 4.0 percent) industries recorded higher workforce growth than other major sectors. The shipbuilding industry, after experiencing workforce declines for eight consecutive years, has now recorded increases for the second year in a row, reaching 59,213 workers in 2024 (up 1.2 percent). Regionally, the industrial technology workforce in the Seoul metropolitan area has accounted for more than half of the national total since 2023, reaching 50.34 percent in 2024, with concentration in the metropolitan area continuing to intensify. The estimated shortage of industrial technology workers stood at approximately 40,000, representing a 1.6 percent increase from the previous year. Recruitment and hiring of both experienced workers and new entrants were more prevalent among non-metropolitan establishments. In recruitment, non-metropolitan shares stood at 50.1 percent for experienced workers and 57.8 percent for new entrants, while in hiring, the figures rose to 50.3 percent and 58.6 percent, respectively, exceeding those of the metropolitan area. The number of employees leaving their jobs declined year-on-year (down 0.7 percent), and the early turnover rate within one year of employment has continued to fall steadily over the past five years. date2026-01-02

Number of Middle Market Enterprises in Korea Rises 10.3% Year-on-Year to 6,474

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR, Minister JK Kim) announced on Wednesday, December 31, 2025, the release of the 2024 Basic Statistics on Middle Market Enterprise. The statistics are nationally approved data compiled and released annually since 2015 with approval from Statistics Korea/ As of 2024, the number of middle market enterprises in Korea stood at 6,474, an increase of 606 companies (up 10.3 percent) from 2023. During the year, 669 companies exited the middle market category after growing into large enterprises, reverting to SME status, or ceasing operations, while 1,275 companies entered the category after graduating from SME status or through newly established firms.   Middle market enterprises employed a total of 1.76 million workers in 2024, an increase of 53,000 (up 3.1 percent) from the previous year. Employment in the manufacturing sector rose to 687,000 (up 9,000, or 1.3 percent) year-on-year, while employment in the non-manufacturing sector increased by 45,000 (up 4.4 percent) to a total of 1.07 million.   Total sales of middle market enterprises in 2024 amounted to KRW 1,030.5 trillion, an increase of KRW 46.2 trillion (up 4.7 percent) from the previous year. Sales increased in both the manufacturing (up 2.5 percent) and non-manufacturing (up 6.9 percent) sectors. Within manufacturing, strong growth was recorded in sectors such as electrical equipment (up 9.9 percent), bio-health (up 7.9 percent), and food and beverages (up 6.2 percent). In the non-manufacturing sector, transportation (up 17.6 percent) and information and communications (up 15.2 percent) posted robust growth.    Total assets held by middle market enterprises reached KRW 1,322.6 trillion in 2024, an increase of KRW 95.3 trillion (up 7.8 percent) from the previous year. Operating profit totaled KRW 50.3 trillion (up KRW 2.8 trillion, or 5.9 percent) year-on-year.   Total investment by middle market enterprises in 2024 amounted to KRW 36.4 trillion, an increase of KRW 5.3 trillion (up 17.1 percent) from the previous year. Of the total, R&D investment reached KRW 13.0 trillion (up 35.2 percent), while facility investment stood at KRW 23.4 trillion (up 8.9 percent).   The most common areas for new business initiatives pursued by middle market enterprises in 2024 were environmentally friendly industries (25.7 percent), advanced bio industries (23.9 percent), and renewable energy (13.9 percent). In addition, 39.3 percent of middle market enterprises were found to have adopted ESG management practices, representing an increase of 5.2 percentage points from the previous year.   MOTIR assessed that since the end of the COVID-19 period in 2022, Korea’s middle market enterprises have demonstrated steady growth across all major indicators—including the number of companies, employment, sales, assets, and investment—and noted in particular that the 35.2 percent year-on-year increase in R&D investment underscores the sector’s ongoing efforts to strengthen technological innovation. date2025-12-31

Strategic Meeting of the M.AX Alliance for Autonomous Ships

Minister JK (Jung-Kwan) Kim of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR) attended the Strategic Meeting of the M.AX Alliance for Autonomous Ships held at Lotte Hotel Seoul on Monday, December 29, 2025, together with Kim Sung-bum, Acting Minister of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF). The meeting was attended by Lee Sang-kyun, Chairman of the Korea Offshore & Shipbuilding Association (KOSHIPA); Kim Hee-cheul, CEO of Hanwha Ocean; Choi Won-hyok, CEO of HMM; and representatives from shipbuilding and shipping companies, AI firms, universities, and research institutions. In his remarks, Minister Kim of MOTIR stated, “Korea’s shipbuilding and shipping industries have repeatedly demonstrated their ability to weather challenging conditions. As we now face the approaching wave of AI, the industries must come together to turn it into a new growth engine and move toward an even larger future.” He added, “Autonomous ships represent one of the most promising areas for delivering tangible outcomes under the M.AX strategy. By combining Korea’s world-class shipbuilding technologies with AI, we can take the lead in next-generation shipbuilding and shipping markets.” Minister Kim also emphasized, “Working closely with the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, MOTIR will foster autonomous ships as a future growth driver for both industries by linking technology development, data utilization, and the broader industrial ecosystem through the M.AX Alliance.” date2025-12-30

M.AX Alliance for Autonomous Ships Enters Full Operation: MOTIR and MOF Join Hands with Shipbuilding and Shipping Industries in a “2+2 Partnership”

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR, Minister JK Kim) and the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF, Acting Minister Kim Sung-bum) jointly held the Strategic Meeting of the M.AX Alliance for Autonomous Ships on Monday, December 29, at Lotte Hotel Seoul. The meeting brought together approximately 100 participants from around 50 organizations, including shipbuilders, shipping companies, AI firms such as Naver and KT, universities, and research institutes. The meeting was particularly significant, as it marked the first time that key policymakers and industry leaders from Korea’s shipbuilding and shipping sectors convened to discuss a shared vision for the future of the maritime industry. Official Launch of the M.AX (Manufacturing AX) Alliance for Autonomous Ships Autonomous ships are emerging as a key strategic sector for the global shipbuilding and shipping industries as they confront structural shifts driven by tighter carbon-neutrality regulations, higher maritime safety standards, changes in seafaring workforce structures, and intensifying competition from rival countries. While MOTIR and MOF have made substantial progress under Phase I of the Autonomous Ship Technology Development initiative—including successful real-world trials on international shipping routes—acquiring and sharing real-world demonstration data is an essential priority for Phase II development. This industry consensus led to the launch of the Alliance, which brings together the shipbuilding, shipping, and AI industries to develop a shared data foundation and establish a cooperative demonstration framework. Securing a larger volume of demonstration data is critical to achieving technological leadership ahead of the establishment of International Maritime Organization (IMO) standards around 2030. At the meeting, the Alliance outlined its vision around three core pillars: Speed, Engagement, and Alliance (S.E.A.). “Speed” reflects the commitment to rapidly develop and demonstrate autonomous ship technologies to secure early leadership in international standards. “Engagement” emphasizes the Alliance’s role as an industrial cooperation platform that organically integrates shipbuilding and shipping, large enterprises and SMEs, and the public and private sectors. “Alliance” underscores a commitment to shared growth by establishing a virtuous structure that enables outcomes generated within the Alliance to be disseminated across the broader industrial ecosystem. During the event, the Korea Planning and Evaluation Institute of Industrial Technology (KEIT) and the Korea Ocean Business Corporation (KOBC) signed a memorandum of understanding to foster an AI-based autonomous ship ecosystem. By bringing together design and sea-trial data from shipbuilders, operational data accumulated by shipping companies, and algorithmic and data processing capabilities from AI firms, the Alliance will enhance the reliability and technical maturity of AI-enabled autonomous navigation systems. Looking ahead, MOTIR and MOF will launch demonstration projects next year to build the world’s largest public dataset for AI training in autonomous ship technologies, while advancing a project to develop AI-enabled, fully autonomous ships. The Alliance will discuss concrete measures regarding the scope, methods, and targets of data collection, with the outcomes reflected in government-supported programs. The outputs will then be standardized, platformized, and converted into public datasets for broader industry use. The ministries will continue to support these efforts through data sharing, demonstration support, and regulatory improvements. Full-Scale Cooperation Between Korea’s Shipbuilding and Shipping Industries The Korea Offshore & Shipbuilding Association (KOSHIPA) and the Korea Shipowners’ Association (KSA) also signed an agreement to promote share date2025-12-29

Korea Launches “K-Chemistry Roadmap 2030” to Drive a New Leap Forward for Korea’s Chemical Industry

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR, Minister JK Kim) held the inauguration ceremony for the Chemical Industry Innovation Alliance and unveiled the “K-Chemistry Next-Generation Technology Innovation Roadmap 2030” on Tuesday, December 23, at Lotte Hotel Seoul. The event was attended by approximately 150 representatives from local governments, industry, academia, and research institutions. The launch of the Alliance and the announcement of the Roadmap underscore the urgent need to strengthen the chemical industry’s future competitiveness through both the rationalization of production facilities and a shift from commodity-based materials toward high value-added specialty products. Notably, the Roadmap adopts a one-team approach that moves away from fragmented, material-by-material R&D and instead supports the entire chemical industry value chain—from feedstocks and materials to applications and end-demand—by linking it with downstream demand industries such as semiconductors and future mobility. As stated at the petrochemical industry meeting held the previous day, the government will prioritize companies participating in business restructuring when providing R&D support. The “K-Chemistry Next-Generation Technology Innovation Roadmap 2030” outlines implementation strategies to elevate Korea’s chemical industry from fifth place globally to fourth by 2030. The Roadmap seeks to advance R&D and infrastructure to secure core materials and process technologies through three pillars: high value-added transformation, eco-friendly transformation, and strengthened responses to global environmental regulations. To promote the adoption of M.AX within the K-Chemistry industry, the government will support AI-driven technology development and foundational infrastructure across all stages of material design and manufacturing processes. The Roadmap includes plans to establish autonomous experimentation systems that integrate AI with automated equipment to shorten new material development timelines, as well as to implement intelligent process control systems that apply AI at every stage of production—from raw material input through polymerization, separation, post-processing, and fabrication—to optimize process conditions and minimize energy consumption in real time. The Roadmap was developed over six months with the participation of more than 80 domestic experts in technology identification and capability assessment. Following reviews by R&D leaders from petrochemical companies, 217 viable component technologies were identified. These technologies will be classified into four categories based on market potential and technological maturity, with tailored support measures to follow. Based on the Roadmap, MOTIR will design projects through the Alliance and launch large-scale R&D programs in the first quarter of next year. The newly established Chemical Industry Innovation Alliance will serve as both the command center and the engine for implementation, operating as a collaborative model that spans the entire value chain—from feedstocks and materials to applications and end-demand. The Alliance will also coordinate nine flagship projects across nine key sectors, including semiconductors and future mobility. Under this framework, demand-side anchor companies will specify performance requirements for key materials, while ecosystem participants—including SMEs at the feedstock, material, and application stages—will form consortia to develop technologies that meet those requirements and link them to commercialization. Park Dong-il, Director General for Industrial Policy, noted that “petrochemical companies submitted their restructuring plans on December 19 and reaffirmed their commitment to full-scale implementation at a meeting chaired by the Minister yesterday.” He added, “The Roadmap marks a date2025-12-23

CEO Meeting on Business Restructuring for the Petrochemical Industry

Minister JK (Jung-Kwan) Kim of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR) chaired the “CEO Meeting on Business Restructuring for the Petrochemical Industry” on Monday, December 22, at the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) in Seoul.   The meeting was attended by senior executives from the petrochemical industry, including the CEO of LOTTE Chemical Lee Young-jun; CEO of SK Geocentric Kim Jong-hwa; Vice Chairman of DL Chemical Kim Jong-hyun; CEO of HD Hyundai Chemical Cho Nam-su; Vice President of GS Caltex Heo Sung-woo; President of S-Oil Ryu Yeol; President of LG Chem Kim Dong-chun; CEO of Hyosung Chemical Lee Cheon-seok; CEO of SK Advanced Kim Chul-jin; President of Hanwha Solutions Nam Jung-woon; and Vice President of the Korea Chemical Industry Association, Eom Chan-wang, along with other representatives from the petrochemical sector.   Minister Kim gathered opinions on business restructuring from companies that submitted draft restructuring plans and encouraged their swift implementation. He stated, “While this year focused on laying the strategic groundwork for reform, next year will be decisive in determining its success through execution,” and stressed that “the government and industry will work together as one team toward the successful restructuring of the petrochemical sector.” date2025-12-23