Ministry of Trade Industry and Resources

Korea’s retail industry grows 7.0% in April

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) announced today that Korea’s retail industry advanced 7.0 percent year-on-year in April 2025, with offline sales receding 1.9 percent and online sales climbing 15.8 percent. MOTIE's monthly retail sales figures are based on surveys of 23 major retailers. Thirteen of them are brick-and-mortar retailers: three department store chains, three hypermarket chains, three convenience store chains, and four super supermarket (SSMs) operators. The remaining 10 are online retailers. Offline sales were affected by weakened consumer confidence, increasing online purchases, and the rapidly shifting weather patterns observed recently, which led to a decline in outdoor activities. As a result, hypermarkets and department stores saw sales shrink 3.1 percent and 2.9 percent, respectively. Meanwhile, SSMs gained 0.2 percent while convenience stores (down 0.6 percent) slowed for the second time this year following their previous decline in February. Online sales are on an upward trajectory, driven by the expansion of online shopping, heightened competition among delivery services, and the wider range of available services. Most categories of offline sales slid with the exception of luxury goods (up 1.1 percent), while online retail sales continue to grow on the backs of food products (up 21.3 percent) and services (up 50.1 percent) such as food delivery, e-coupons, and travel packages. Online sales of fashion/clothing (down 8.6 percent) are still sluggish, whereas cosmetics (up 11.6 percent) are maintaining growth.   date2025-05-28

Korea’s automobile exports record $6.5 billion in April

Korea’s Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) announced today that domestic automobile sales for the month of April 2025 logged 150,622 units, increasing month-on-month for the third consecutive month. Domestic sales advanced 6.7 percent year-on-year on the backs of continued demand for electric vehicles (EVs) and hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), each gaining 50.3 percent and 29.9 percent year-on-year, respectively, in terms of units. Their aggregate sales volume accounts for 46 percent (68,048 units) of Korea’s entire domestic sales in April. Korea’s automobile exports for April (USD 6.5 billion) saw growth in destinations like the EU, Asia, Middle East, Latin America, and Africa. Exports to the EU advanced 26.7 percent year-on-year, based on strong demand for Korean EV models in the local market. Moreover, the robust exports of secondhand cars helped boost auto exports to non-EU European countries (up 11.6 percent) and Asia (up 53.9 percent). Meanwhile, U.S.-bound automobile exports shrank 19.6 percent from the impact of tariffs and other factors, including a major Korean automaker’s opening of a new production plant in Georgia, U.S. Automobile production inched down by only 2.2 percent to 385,621 units in spite of growing trade uncertainties, powered by surging domestic sales and Korean automobiles’ solid performance in the EU and non-U.S. markets.   date2025-05-20

Minister Ahn awards companies at 22nd Automotive Day

Korea’s Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy attended the 22nd Automotive Day on May 14 in Seoul with the participation of 200 industry representatives and awarded 34 medals and orders of merit including the Silver Tower Order of Industrial Service Merit, which went to Anjun Industrial Co. for its contribution to the mass production of Korea’s first hybrid vehicle hollow stem valve. date2025-05-15

Korea’s ICT exports grow 10.8% in April

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) and the Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT) announced today that Korea’s exports of information and communications technology (ICT) goods for the month of April 2025 gained 10.8 percent year-on-year to USD 18.9 billion, while imports inched down 2.4 percent to $11.3 billion. The trade balance netted a surplus of $7.6 billion. Despite global trade uncertainties, April ICT exports saw solid growth momentum overall with semiconductors (up 17.2 percent to $11.7 billion) hitting all-time highs for the month. Mobile phones (up 28.6 percent) and communication devices (up 3.5 percent) likewise advanced, whereas exports of displays (down 7.6 percent) and computers/peripherals (down 11.9 percent) retreated. The growth of semiconductor exports is attributable to the rebound in fixed prices of DRAMs and heightened demand for high value-added chips like HBMs and DDR5s. Mobile phones maintained an upward trajectory powered by finished products’ export recovery and robust demand from overseas parts manufacturers. Communication device exports advanced on the backs of strong demand for automotive and 5G equipment.  Meanwhile, display exports shrank due to slower demand and an ensuing change in the shipment schedule. Computers/peripherals experienced a temporary slowdown in demand from increased inventory levels, exports turning to a contraction for the first time in 16 months. By region, Korea’s April ICT exports expanded to the U.S. (up 0.5 percent), Vietnam (up 13.4 percent), the EU (up 14.7 percent), and Japan (up 8.5 percent), whereas those to China (including Hong Kong) (down 1.5 percent) slid.   date2025-05-14

41st APEC Automotive Dialogue Opens in Jeju Island

Korea’s Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE, Minister Ahn Duk-geun) announced that the 41st APEC Automotive Dialogue (AD) will be held at the International Convention Center Jeju (ICC Jeju) on May 9–10, 2025, on the sidelines of the second APEC Senior Officials’ Meeting and Related Meetings (SOM2). The APEC AD is a public-private forum where government officials and industry representatives from member economies share major policy issues and industrial trends and discuss cooperation in the automotive industry. Launched in 1999, it serves as APEC’s main platform for dialogue on diverse automotive issues, including electric mobility, autonomous driving, and trade. As chair of APEC 2025, MOTIE is co-chairing the 2025 meeting with the Korea Automobile Manufacturers Association (KAMA). Officials and industry representatives from 16 member economies, including Chile, China, Japan, and the United States, will take part. Key agenda includes the automobile industry and market trends, EV transition, autonomous driving, AI technology, and future mobility. During the event, Korea will present on core issues in the shift to future mobility, including EV architecture innovation, battery recycling, hydrogen mobility and fuel cell technology, and purpose-built vehicles (PBVs). The discussions are expected to strengthen cooperation among member countries and facilitate exchanges on industrial technologies and policy trends. date2025-05-09

K-Humanoid Alliance Expands Collaboration Across Korea’s Robotics Industry

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE, Minister Ahn Duk-geun) announced on May 1, 2025, that the K-Humanoid Alliance, launched on April 10, 2025, is creating momentum for new collaboration across Korea’s robot industry. Within three weeks of its launch, participating companies signed four memorandums of understanding (MOUs), while talks were underway for additional MOUs, purchase contracts, and joint technology development. Five domestic robot companies will support the development of a robot AI foundation model by supplying humanoid robots to the Seoul National University Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (SNUAILAB), and more than 20 companies have already sought participation in the Alliance. On April 16, 2025, Rainbow Robotics and CJ Logistics signed an MOU to jointly develop and commercialize logistics robots. AeiROBOT, a multi-winner of international robotics competitions, also signed MOUs with POSCO E&C and HMD on April 16 and April 22, 2025, respectively, to develop humanoid robots for construction sites and shipyards. ROBOTIS, a leading Korean robot parts maker, unveiled its AI humanoid walker robot during an MOU signing ceremony on April 25, 2025, with the Korea Integrated Logistics Association (KILA), marking its entry into the humanoid robot business for automated logistics. Holiday Robotics, Blue Robin, and ROBROS are also in ongoing discussions with major domestic manufacturers to deploy robots at production sites. Cooperation between robot companies and AI experts is already gaining traction. Humanoid robot makers Rainbow Robotics, AeiROBOT, Holiday Robotics, ROBOTIS, and ROBROS plan to provide humanoid robots to SNUAILAB by 2025. Using data collected from these robots, SNUAILAB and a group of AI experts will test AI models and develop a foundation model for general-purpose robots.  Robot parts manufacturers are also stepping up collaboration with robot companies. Parts makers Wonik Robotics, Faraday Dynamics, and ROBOTIS are working with robot firms to develop core humanoid robot components such as robotic hands, actuators, and decelerators for joint participation in MOTIE’s R&D projects. MOTIE plans to support over 10 joint R&D projects under the Alliance over five years, reflecting the need for specialization in developing high-quality humanoid robots and securing mass production capacity. With more than 20 companies seeking to join the Alliance, a humanoid fund set for launch during the second half of 2025 is also drawing strong interest from the financial sector. To facilitate the Alliance’s operation in an organized manner, MOTIE will hold an inaugural meeting to establish rules and define roles and cooperation measures. Rules will cover new membership procedures, as well as guidelines on robot AI development, joint simulator development, funding, regular exhibitions, and talent training. date2025-05-02

Korea’s Retail Industry Grows 9.2% in March

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE, Minister Ahn Duk-geun) announced today that Korea’s retail industry climbed 9.2 percent year-on-year in March 2025, with offline sales falling 0.2 percent and online sales advancing 19.0 percent. MOTIE's monthly retail sales figures are based on surveys of 23 major retailers: 13 brick-and-mortar retailers, comprising three department store chains, three hypermarket chains, three convenience store chains, and four super supermarket (SSMs) chains. The remaining 10 are online retailers. A decline in consumer sentiment affected offline categories such as fashion and home appliances, with sales declining at hypermarkets (down 0.2 percent) and department stores (down 2.1 percent). Sales increased at convenience stores (up 1.4 percent) and SSMs (up 3.6 percent), reflecting their convenience in shopping locally for small purchases. Except food products (up 3.4 percent), hypermarkets slowed in most sales categories, including home appliances/culture (down 20.2 percent), clothing (down 5.7 percent), and home/living (down 3.7 percent). Department stores also posted declines in all categories except food (up 3.5 percent), with sales falling in foreign designer labels (down 2.7 percent), household goods (down 2.2 percent), miscellaneous goods (down 3.8 percent), and kids/sports (down 1.6 percent). Convenience stores and SSMs recorded growth across both food and non-food categories. Online retail sales surged 19.0 percent, the second-largest increase since April 2024 (up 19.5 percent). Growth was led by food products (up 19.4 percent) and service/other (up 78.3 percent) , driven by increased use of online delivery services and demand for food delivery and e-coupons. In contrast, fashion/clothing (down 4.7 percent) and sports (down 10.1 percent) continued to decline.   Meanwhile, back-to-school demand fueled sales for home appliances/consumer electronics (up 7.8 percent) for the second consecutive month. Cosmetic products (up 7.5 percent) also maintained growth on wider online demand. date2025-04-29

Minister Ahn visits Samsung Electronics R&D Center in Hanoi

Korea’s Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Dukgeun Ahn visited Samsung Electronics R&D Center in Hanoi, Vietnam, on April 14 and received a briefing on business issues and toured major facilities, encouraging the employees. date2025-04-16

Korea’s auto exports log 2nd highest for March

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) of Korea announced today that automobile production (up 1.5 percent), domestic sales (up 2.4 percent), and export value (up 1.2 percent) for the month of March 2025 all advanced year-on-year for the second consecutive month. Notably, March automobile exports reached the second highest in history for the month at $6.2 billion. The export value for the first quarter (Q1) inched down 1.3 percent year-on-year, which is attributable to last year’s high base effect and this year’s lower number of working days (-3) compared to Q1 2024. Domestic sales rose 2.7 percent to 388,294 units during Q1 2025 as a result of a base effect from last year’s sluggish domestic demand. Q1 sales of eco-friendly vehicles soared over 20 percent to 169,013 units and the total automobile production volume (1,013,485 units) breached the one-million-unit mark for the third consecutive year, driven by strong domestic demand.   date2025-04-15

Korea’s ICT exports climb 9.4% in March

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) and the Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT) of Korea announced today that exports and imports of information and communications technology (ICT) goods for March 2025 rose 9.4 percent and 6.8 percent year-on-year, respectively, to USD 20.6 billion and $12.2 billion. The trade balance stood at a surplus of $8.4 billion. Compared to February, the month of March saw exports and trade surplus soar steeply, each advancing 24 percent and 48 percent month-on-month. It is also significant to note that exports of major ICT items gained simultaneously for the first time in eight months. Leading items like semiconductors (up 11.8 percent year-on-year), displays (up 1.3 percent), mobile phones (up 14.5 percent), and computers/peripherals (up 28.1 percent) all achieved growth, whereas communication devices (down 0.4 percent) slowed. The rebound of semiconductors is attributed to buyers’ depleting memory chip inventories and increasing demand for high value-added memory chips like HBMs and DDR5s. Displays snapped their eight-month losing streak, thanks to new mobile phone model releases and wider demand from downstream ICT industries.  Mobile phones performed strong as shipments of parts surged on the backs of demand from overseas production bases. Computers/peripherals enjoyed growth as increasing investments in servers and datacenters across the U.S. and the EU led to higher demand for storage devices. Meanwhile, communication devices inched down as a result of the diminished supply of parts for wireless communication devices. By region, Korea’s ICT exports expanded to destinations like the U.S., Vietnam, and Japan, while those to China (including Hong Kong) and the EU declined.   date2025-04-14