Ministry of Trade Industry and Resources

Meeting with Engineering Leaders Who Contributed to Korea’s Industrial Development

Minister JK (Jung-Kwan) Kim of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR) chaired a meeting with veteran engineering leaders in Seoul on October 29, 2026. The meeting honored their dedication and contributions to Korea’s industrialization and technological advancement, including making Korea globally competitive in semiconductors, displays, automobiles, shipbuilding, steel, robotics, and other industries. Participants discussed future strategies for Korean industry amid rapid industrial change. Attendees included Chin Dae-je, former President of Samsung Electronics and former Minister of Information and Communication; Park Sung-wook, former Vice Chairman of SK hynix, who led the development of high-bandwidth memory (HBM) and advances in semiconductor technology; and Kwon Oh-Kyong, Endowed-Chair Professor at Hanyang University, who contributed to developing and commercializing key technologies for the world’s first AMOLED displays. In his opening remarks, Minister Kim credited the engineering community’s determination and dedication in pushing technological boundaries despite countless failures and challenges with Korea’s rise as a technological powerhouse. He sought the leaders’ advice on how Korean industry could take its next leap forward amid the AI revolution and global competition for technological leadership. date2026-10-30

MOTIR Meets Engineering Leaders to Discuss Korea’s Next Leap in the AI Era

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR, Minister JK Kim) held a meeting at the Korea Press Center on October 29, 2026, with veteran engineering leaders who have led Korea’s industrial development. The meeting was held to mark the inaugural Engineers’ Day on October 30 and thank members of the engineering community for their dedication and contributions to Korea’s industrialization and technological advancement. Their work has made Korea globally competitive in semiconductors, displays, automobiles, shipbuilding, steel, robotics, and other industries. The ministry also sought to learn from their experience and hear their insights on the future of Korean industry amid rapid industrial change. Participants included Chin Dae-je, former President of Samsung Electronics and former Minister of Information and Communication, who led the development of DRAM chips including the world’s first 64-megabit, 256-megabit, and 1-gigabit chips; Park Sung-wook, former Vice Chairman of SK hynix, who led the development of high-bandwidth memory (HBM) and innovation in semiconductor technology; and Kwon Oh-kyong, Endowed-Chair Professor at Hanyang University, who contributed to developing and commercializing key technologies for the world’s first AMOLED displays. Other engineering leaders who attended included Yang Woong-chul, former Vice Chairman of Hyundai Motor Company, and Cho Sung-hwan, former CEO of Hyundai Mobis, both of whom led innovation in next-generation automotive technologies. Lee Chung-dong, former head of the Central Research Institute at Hyundai Heavy Industries, led advances in shipbuilding, including the development of ship control technologies. Cho Hyung-hee, Professor Emeritus at Yonsei University, developed key cooling technologies for gas turbines, while Shin Kyung-chul, Honorary Chairman of Yujin Robot, led advances in industrial robotics. Min Dong-joon, Professor Emeritus at Yonsei University, developed the theoretical basis for commercializing the FINEX ironmaking process. Rhee Byung-geon, former Vice Chairman of Chong Kun Dang Holdings, led the development of treatments for osteoarthritis and hemophilia. Before the luncheon discussion began, Minister Kim thanked members of the engineering community for pushing technological boundaries with determination and dedication despite countless failures and challenges, crediting them with Korea’s rise as a technological powerhouse. Amid the new challenges posed by the AI revolution and global competition for technological leadership, he asked the veteran engineering leaders who pioneered Korea’s industrialization for advice on how Korean industry should develop to take its next leap forward. During the luncheon discussion, participants held wide-ranging discussions on the direction Korean industry should take in the AI era, the engineering community’s role in accelerating industrial innovation, and how to create an environment where its members can focus on research and technology development. Minister Kim identified the Mega Projects, worth KRW 1,600 trillion in total, and Manufacturing AI Transformation (M.AX) as drivers of future growth and stressed the need to pool national capabilities to ensure their success. He called on the engineering community to actively provide input and contribute to policymaking and implementation. He also said that creating an environment where members of the engineering community are respected by society and fairly rewarded is essential to sustaining innovation. The government would take an active role in establishing the necessary institutional framework, he added. Based on the discussions at the meeting, MOTIR plans to pursue policies in earnest to enhance recognition of and respect for members of the engineering community and create an environment that supports innovative research and development. To mark the inaugural Engineers’ Day, the minis date2026-10-30

Opening Ceremony for Merck’s Asia-Pacific Bioprocessing Production Center

Minister for Trade Park Jung-sung of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR, Minister JK Kim) attended the opening ceremony for Merck’s Asia-Pacific Bioprocessing Production Center on October 29, 2026, in the Dungok district of the International Science Business Belt in Yuseong-gu, Daejeon. He delivered congratulatory remarks, participated in the ceremony marking the center’s opening, and toured its main facilities. Approximately 250 people attended, including National Assembly member Hwang Junga; Heo Tae-jeong, Mayor of Daejeon Metropolitan City; Johannes Baillou, Chairman of the Executive Board of E. Merck KG; Jean-Charles Wirth, CEO of Merck’s Life Science business; and representatives of local governments, relevant institutions, and companies. Minister Park said the investment further broadens Korea-Germany economic cooperation and noted the significance of the opening coinciding with the German Chancellor’s visit to Korea and the Asia-Pacific Conference of German Business (APK 2026). He expressed hope that Merck would further develop its biotech business in Korea and continue to create new growth opportunities together with the country. date2026-10-29

Germany’s Merck Opens Manufacturing Hub for Bioprocessing Materials in Daejeon

Merck, a global chemical company based in Germany, held an opening ceremony on October 29, 2026, for its Asia-Pacific Bioprocessing Production Center in the Dungok district of Daejeon’s International Science Business Belt. The center represents Merck’s largest life science investment in the Asia-Pacific region. Merck plans to use the facility as a key hub to produce raw materials and supplies for biopharmaceutical manufacturing in Korea, including cell culture media and process liquids, for supply to Korean customers and export to the Asia-Pacific region. The center is also expected to contribute significantly to the local economy by employing approximately 300 people by 2028. In May 2023, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR, Minister JK Kim) and Daejeon Metropolitan City signed a trilateral memorandum of understanding (MOU) on investment cooperation with Merck. They provided close support from the early stages of the investment, including identifying a site, securing permits and resolving business difficulties, making the project a successful example of attracting foreign investment. With this support, Merck recognized the growth potential of Korea’s bioindustry and decided to invest in the Asia-Pacific Bioprocessing Production Center to establish a supply chain hub for the region. Founded in 1668, Merck is a leading company in life science, healthcare, and electronic materials. It entered Korea in 1989 and now employs more than 1,900 people in the country. In life science, Merck has supported process development, provided technical assistance, and produced raw materials and supplies on a small scale for Korean biotech companies through its M Lab Collaboration Center and Life Science Operations Headquarters, both in Songdo. In his congratulatory remarks, Minister for Trade Park Jung-sung described the project as “a significant investment that further broadens economic cooperation between Korea and Germany.” He added, “The opening is particularly meaningful as it coincides with the German Chancellor’s visit to Korea and the Asia-Pacific Conference of German Business (APK 2026).” He also said, “I hope Merck will further develop its biotech business in Korea through the Bioprocessing Production Center and, as a foreign-invested company, continue to create new opportunities for growth together with Korea.” Approximately 250 people attended the ceremony, including Minister Park, Heo Tae-jeong, Mayor of Daejeon Metropolitan City, National Assembly member Hwang Jung-a, and other government officials; Johannes Baillou, Chairman of the Executive Board of E. Merck KG, and Jean-Charles Wirth, CEO of Merck’s Life Science business; and representatives of relevant companies and institutions. date2026-10-29

Connecting Global Biotech: From Collaboration to Commercialization

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR, Minister JK Kim) announced that BIOPLUS-INTERPHEX KOREA 2026 (BIX) will be held at COEX in Seoul from October 28 to 30, 2026. The event is hosted by the Korea Biotechnology Industry Organization (KoreaBIO, President Christopher Hansung Ko). BIX, a leading biotech event in Korea, will bring together around 300 companies this year under the theme “Connecting the Global Biopharma Value Chain.” Through exhibitions, conferences, business partnering, Open Stage presentations, and networking programs, participants will exchange information on technological and market trends across the biopharmaceutical industry, from research and development to manufacturing. They will also explore opportunities for cooperation between Korean and international companies. More than 30 conference sessions featuring presentations by over 90 experts from Korea and abroad will examine the latest technologies and business strategies in biotech. In particular, the sessions will cover key industry issues, including artificial intelligence (AI)-based drug discovery and development, next-generation therapeutic technologies, global investment and mergers and acquisitions (M&A), entry into overseas markets, and regulatory trends. Participants will also discuss international cooperation to link research and development with commercialization and production. This year’s BIX will be the largest to date, with major Korean biotech companies, including Samsung Biologics, Samsung Bioepis, Hanmi Pharmaceutical, and Binex, participating. The event will also draw many global suppliers of biopharmaceutical materials, components, and equipment, as well as contract development and manufacturing organizations (CDMOs), including Lonza, Sartorius, Thermo Fisher, and Merck. In particular, visitors to this year’s AI Bio M.AX Pavilion can explore technologies that integrate AI into biotechnology, as well as key materials, components, and equipment  for the biotechnology industry. In his congratulatory remarks at the BIX opening ceremony, Lee Min-woo, Deputy Minister for Industry and Growth at MOTIR, said Korea has the world’s largest biopharmaceutical manufacturing capacity and is expanding its presence in global markets. He expressed hope that BIX would move beyond information sharing and exchanges and serve as a starting point for open innovation.   date2026-10-28

Korea’s Nuclear Industry to Join Global Supply Chains

The 2026 Nuclear Export and Safety Confex (NES 2026) will take place at the Hwabaek International Convention Center (HICO) in Gyeongju from October 27 to 29, 2026. The three-day international event will explore opportunities for Korean nuclear companies to enter overseas markets and cooperate with partners in global supply chains. Now in its third edition, the event is jointly organized by the Korea Nuclear Association for International Cooperation (KNA) and HICO and sponsored by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR, Minister JK Kim). The opening ceremony will be held on October 28, 2026. Attendees will include Kang Gam-chan, Deputy Minister for International Trade and Investment at MOTIR; Kim Dong-cheol, President of KNA and President and CEO of Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO); Choi Young-sook, Head of the Pan East Sea Regional Headquarters of Gyeongsangbuk-do; Joo Nak-young, Mayor of Gyeongju; Joe Orgeron, a member of the Louisiana House of Representatives in the United States; Carl Coe, former Chief of Staff at the U.S. Department of Energy; and Cao Hoai Duong, Vice President of Vietnam’s Petrovietnam (PVN). The event will bring together 120 nuclear companies from Korea and other countries, including the United States, France, Canada, Vietnam, and the Czech Republic, along with approximately 3,000 nuclear industry participants. Their participation demonstrates strong global interest in Korea’s nuclear industry and enthusiasm for working with Korean companies. Under the theme “Leading the Global Nuclear Supply Chain,” this year’s event features a range of programs, including conferences, business meetings, and an exhibition. These programs will explore how Korean nuclear companies can expand their participation in global supply chains, including through follow-on opportunities arising from projects to build eight large nuclear power reactors in the United States under the Korea-U.S. Nuclear Power Framework announced on October 1, 2026. Conferences on October 27 and 29 will cover the importance of nuclear power as AI use expands, the future of small modular reactors (SMRs) and opportunities to enter the SMR market, and experiences of participating in overseas supply chains. In particular, two sessions—the “U.S. Nuclear Construction Project Briefing” on the morning of October 27 and “Supply Chain Opportunities for Large-Scale U.S. Nuclear Power Plants” on the morning of October 29—are expected to offer Korean companies a valuable opportunity to explore entry into overseas markets, including the United States, following the recent announcement of the Korea-U.S. Nuclear Power Framework. B2B export meetings on October 27 and 28 will bring together 55 overseas buyer companies and 70 Korean small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and middle market enterprises. To help the meetings lead to actual exports rather than remain one-off encounters, each company will receive a schedule of one-on-one meetings based on an advance survey of participants’ interests. Major anchor companies from around the world are attending as buyers, including TerraPower of the United States, EDF and Framatome of France, AtkinsRéalis of Canada, and PVN of Vietnam. The exhibition will feature 182 booths operated by 77 Korean and foreign companies and institutions. Exhibitors will include large Korean companies and public enterprises supplying nuclear equipment or providing engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) services. Companies will also participate in groups through joint pavilions, including the Team Korea Pavilion with four companies, the SMR Pavilion with 10 companies, and the Nuclear Export First Step Pavilion with 18 companies. Together, they will actively promote the export capabilities of Korean nuclear companies across the full nuclear power lifecycle to a global audience.  In his congratulatory rema date2026-10-27

M.AX Certification Now Recognized Overseas

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR, Minister JK Kim) held the fourth Industrial AI International Certification Forum at COEX in Seoul on October 20, 2026, together with the Korea Testing Laboratory (KTL), the Korea Institute for Advancement of Technology (KIAT), and other relevant organizations. Testing and certification are becoming increasingly important as Manufacturing AI Transformation (M.AX) expands across manufacturing sites and international demand grows for evidence of AI safety and reliability. In particular, differing certification requirements across countries and duplicate testing place a burden on Korean companies entering overseas markets. This has increased the need for cooperation on certification that allows testing and evaluation results to be used abroad. Industrial AI International Certification, also known as M.AX certification, assesses and certifies the performance and reliability of products and services used for AI transformation in manufacturing, such as automated defect inspection and equipment failure prediction, based on international standards developed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). The certification system has been developed primarily by Korean testing and certification bodies, helping companies objectively demonstrate the reliability of their AI products and services. Since November 2025, however, mutual recognition with CertX, a Swiss certification body, has enabled companies to use testing and evaluation results from Korea to apply for and obtain overseas certification as needed. At the forum, two Korean companies, Hyundai AutoEver and Wizcore, were presented with joint certificates from KTL and CertX under the two bodies’ mutual recognition arrangement. The arrangement allows the companies to obtain overseas certification without repeating tests for items covered by mutual recognition. They can therefore reduce the cost and time required for certification and use the certificates to demonstrate the performance and reliability of their products and services to overseas customers. Since its launch in 2023, the forum has gradually strengthened the certification framework by establishing a certification system, issuing Korea’s first industrial AI certificates, and increasing the number of testing and evaluation bodies. The issuance of overseas certificates at this year’s forum marks a concrete result of the domestic certification infrastructure developed to date. This cooperation on certification is expected to be of great help to Korean companies that are preparing to address overseas AI regulations, including the EU AI Act, in demonstrating the reliability of their products and services and entering overseas markets. At the conference, Lauro Locks, Counsellor at the World Trade Organization (WTO), and Korea University Professor Lee Sang-keun gave presentations on the changing international trade environment in the AI era and the importance of ensuring reliability. Korean companies, including Lotte Corporation, Hyundai AutoEver, and Wizcore, also shared their experience in using industrial AI certification and their strategies for entering overseas markets. “The overseas certificates issued at the forum mark a meaningful achievement that demonstrates the potential for Korea’s testing and certification system to be used internationally,” said Kim Kyu-sung, President of the Korean Agency for Technology and Standards (KATS). “We will expand mutual recognition with overseas certification bodies to reduce the burden of duplicate testing on companies and actively support Korean companies pursuing M.AX in entering global markets.” date2026-10-20

Global Semiconductor Equipment Maker Axcelis Expands Asia-Pacific Manufacturing Base in Korea

Axcelis Technologies, a U.S. semiconductor equipment manufacturer, held a groundbreaking ceremony on October 20, 2026, to expand its Axcelis Asia Operations Center (AAOC) at the Oseong Industrial Complex in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province. AAOC is the company’s only manufacturing facility outside the United States. The investment will substantially increase AAOC’s annual production capacity for ion implantation equipment and is expected to help strengthen Korea’s semiconductor supply chain. Axcelis Technologies is a globally competitive company in ion implantation, a key process in semiconductor manufacturing. Since its establishment in 2021, AAOC has supplied ion implantation equipment to Korean customers, including Samsung Electronics and SK hynix, and exported it directly to other Asia-Pacific countries, including China, Japan and Singapore. With this expansion, Axcelis is following through on the investment plan it announced in September 2026 at an investment declaration ceremony chaired by the Minister of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR, Minister JK Kim) in the United States on the occasion of the G20 Innovation Ministers’ Meeting. Axcelis plans to develop AAOC from a site focused primarily on manufacturing into a comprehensive center encompassing research and development (R&D), prototype production and technical training, making it a key hub for the Asia-Pacific region. With these expanded capabilities, AAOC is expected to meet equipment demand from Korean and overseas companies more promptly and reliably, while actively contributing to greater cooperation with Korean materials, parts and equipment (MPE) companies and the development of skilled professionals through technical training. The ceremony was attended by around 60 participants, including Axcelis Technologies President and CEO Russell Low and Axcelis Korea Country Manager James Park; government officials including Kang Gam-chan, Deputy Minister for International Trade and Investment at MOTIR, Gyeonggi Province Governor Choo Mi-ae and Pyeongtaek Mayor Choi Won-yong; and representatives from Korean customers and partner companies. “Axcelis’ investment is significant in that it demonstrates the company’s confidence in Korea’s semiconductor industry,” Deputy Minister Kang said in his congratulatory remarks. He expressed hope that the AAOC expansion would further strengthen Korea’s semiconductor supply chain and help Axcelis take its business to the next level. “The Korean government will also work closely with Gyeonggi Province and Pyeongtaek to address challenges on the ground and help the investment proceed smoothly,” he added. date2026-10-20

Samsung Electronics to Share 126 Technologies with 99 Companies Free of Charge

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR, Minister JK Kim) held the 2026 MOTIR–Samsung Electronics Technology Sharing Event on October 19, 2026, in Seoul. Attendees included Yoon Seong-hwan, Vice President and Head of the Patent Application Team at Samsung Electronics’ IP Center, and representatives of approximately 80 companies receiving technologies through the program. Samsung Electronics has participated in the technology-sharing program every year from 2015 through 2026, offering a total of 7,210 technologies. Of these, 1,461 have been transferred free of charge to 871 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and mid-sized companies. This year, Samsung Electronics offered 202 advanced technologies in mobile devices, displays and home appliances, of which 126 were transferred to 99 companies. Technologies in the mobile sector, where Samsung Electronics is a leader, were transferred to the largest number of companies this year. The technology that drew the most interest was the “Method and Apparatus for Controlling Multiple IoT Devices” in the mobile and home appliance categories. It enables users to control IoT devices at a specific location through a mobile device. Other Technologies Offered - Mobile robot system, mobile robot and control method: Stores navigation data generated by a mobile robot on a server and shares it with other robots. - Voice data processing method and electronic device supporting the method: Compares text on a device’s screen with voice input to execute a specific function. - Shared task processing method and apparatus: Distributes tasks to the relevant personnel based on the shared task entered into the system and prompts them to enter the results. - Keyword search method and apparatus: Opens a social networking service (SNS) associated with a specific location when text mentioning that location appears in a messaging app. MOTIR said it would continue to support technology sharing to provide SMEs and mid-sized companies with the advanced technologies they need to innovate and grow, thereby helping build an innovation ecosystem based on mutually beneficial cooperation. date2026-10-19

2026 MOTIR–Samsung Electronics Technology Sharing Event

The 2026 MOTIR–Samsung Electronics Technology Sharing Event was held in Yangjae-dong, Seoul, on October 19, 2026. At the event, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR, Minister JK Kim), Samsung Electronics, and the Korea Institute for Advancement of Technology (KIAT) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU). Approximately 100 participants attended, including Jeon Yoon-jong, President of KIAT; Yoon Seong-hwan, Vice President and Head of the Patent Application Team at Samsung Electronics’ IP Center; and representatives of companies receiving technologies through the program. MOTIR said it would continue to support technology sharing to provide SMEs and mid-sized companies with the advanced technologies they need to innovate and grow, helping build an innovation ecosystem based on mutually beneficial cooperation. date2026-10-19