Ministry of Trade Industry and Resources

World Standards Day 2026 Ceremony

Kim Kyu-sung, President of the Korean Agency for Technology and Standards (KATS) under the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR), attended the World Standards Day 2026 ceremony at the International Conference Hall of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) in Seoul on October 14, 2026. Around 300 people attended, including Moon Dong-min, Chairman of the Korean Standards Association (KSA), honorees for contributions to standardization, and their families. After delivering congratulatory remarks, President Kim presented 50 orders, medals and government commendations recognizing contributions to Korea’s industrial development and national competitiveness through domestic and international standardization and efforts to address and improve technical regulations. Recipients included Lee Sang-yong, Head of the VS R&D Lab at LG Electronics, who received the Bronze Tower Order of Industrial Service Merit. President Kim then took part in a ceremonial seal stamping. President Kim emphasized that standards are essential to Manufacturing AI Transformation (M.AX), ensuring the interoperability and reliability of AI data and systems. He pledged to actively pursue standardization to support AI integration across industries and expand M.AX into sectors including autonomous manufacturing, robotics and future vehicles. date2026-10-16

Korea and China Hold 17th Round of FTA Follow-up Negotiations on Services and Investment

Korea and China are holding the 17th round of follow-up negotiations on services and investment under their Free Trade Agreement (FTA) in Seoul from October 12 to 16, 2026. The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR, Minister JK Kim) announced that around 30 delegates from both countries are participating in the talks. The Korean delegation is led by Kwon Hye-jin, Deputy Minister for Trade Negotiations at MOTIR, and the Chinese delegation by Chen Chao, Director General of the Department of International Trade and Economic Affairs at China’s Ministry of Commerce. When concluding the FTA, which entered into force in 2015, Korea and China agreed to pursue greater liberalization through follow-up negotiations on services and investment. They launched the talks in March 2018 and have since held 16 formal rounds. The follow-up negotiations on services and investment under the Korea–China FTA are significant because they lay the groundwork for expanding bilateral trade beyond goods into high-value-added services. Bilateral trade in goods totals approximately USD 270 billion, compared with about USD 38.8 billion in services.1  The two sides are discussing ways to expand services trade in line with their close trading relationship in goods. “We will work to improve conditions for Korean companies entering overseas markets, including by securing substantive results in sectors such as audiovisual and financial services on the basis of reciprocal market opening,” Deputy Minister Kwon said. “We will continue in-depth discussions on areas of mutual interest to make progress in the negotiations that aligns with Korea’s national interests, and do our utmost to build on that progress to further strengthen the foundation for bilateral economic cooperation.”     1Korea’s services trade is equivalent to 14.2 percent of its goods trade with China, compared with 23.8 percent for its trade with the world. date2026-10-15

K-Standards to Turn Manufacturing AI Transformation (M.AX) into Reality

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR, Minister JK Kim) held a ceremony marking World Standards Day 2026 at the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) on October 14, 2026. The ministry presented 50 awards to individuals and organizations that contributed to Korea’s industrial development and strengthened national competitiveness through domestic and international standardization, as well as efforts to address and improve technical regulations. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO), the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) established World Standards Day in 1970 to raise awareness of the importance of standards and promote international standardization. Korea has held an annual ceremony since 2000 to identify and honor those who have contributed to standardization. Lee Sang-yong, Head of the VS R&D Lab at LG Electronics, received the Bronze Tower Order of Industrial Service Merit for strengthening global competitiveness through standardization. His achievements included expanding the global ecosystem through strategic standardization of automotive software and electronic systems and helping LG achieve the world’s largest market share in telematics. Kwon Dae-hyun, Manager at LS ELECTRIC, received the Industrial Service Medal. As a member of the IEC Standardization Management Board (SMB), he contributed to establishing new international standardization committees in areas including quantum technologies and smart manufacturing. He also led the international standardization and localization of industrial communication technologies in Korea. Now in its 27th year, the ceremony commemorating World Standards Day was held under the theme “K-Standards Turn Manufacturing AI Transformation (M.AX) into Reality.” The event highlighted the role and importance of standards in supporting M.AX and reaffirmed Korea’s commitment to taking K-Standards to the next level. Korean Agency for Technology and Standards (KATS) President Kim Kyu-sung emphasized that standards are essential to M.AX because they ensure the interoperability and reliability of AI data and systems. He said, “We will actively pursue standardization to support AI integration across industries so that M.AX can expand into diverse sectors, including autonomous manufacturing, robotics, and future vehicles.”  date2026-10-14

K Connect AI 2026 Opening Ceremony

Kang Gam-chan, Deputy Minister for International Trade and Investment at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR, Minister JK Kim), attended the K Connect AI 2026 opening ceremony at on October 13, 2026, at COEX in Seoul.  Around 400 participants attended, including Kang Kyung-sung, President of the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA), and Yong Seok-woo, Chairman of the Korea Electronics Association (KEA). After delivering opening remarks, Deputy Minister Kang took part in an LED screen touch ceremony marking the opening. He then presented orders, medals, and government commendations to 41 individuals for enhancing the standing of the electronics and IT industry, including Kim Young-jae, Chairman of Daeduck Electronics, who received the Gold Tower Order of Industrial Service Merit. He also toured the Korea Electronics Show (KES). In his remarks, Deputy Minister Kang said the government would develop K Connect AI into a flagship international exhibition for Korea and a business platform that drives industrial innovation and exports toward the USD 1 trillion mark. date2026-10-14

MOTIR Launches K Connect AI

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR, Minister JK Kim) is launching K Connect AI, which brings together five major exhibitions in Korea around a common theme of artificial intelligence (AI): the Korea Electronics Show (KES), the Semiconductor Exhibition (SEDEX), Industrial AI EXPO, Asia Machinery & Manufacturing Expo Korea (AMXPO), and ROBOWORLD. The government plans to develop flagship global exhibitions representing Korea in AI-based advanced industries and in consumer goods such as food and cosmetics, both areas of Korean strength. Making its debut this year, K Connect AI is a new project to develop a flagship Korean exhibition for advanced industries. Its programs will run for about a month, with an opening ceremony, an international conference, special pavilions, and business matching meetings with overseas buyers, all centered on industrial AI. The opening ceremony on October 13, 2026, was held jointly with the opening of KES 2026 and the Electronics and IT Day ceremony. Attendees included Kang Gam-chan, Deputy Minister for International Trade and Investment at MOTIR; Kang Kyung-sung, President of the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA); Yong Seok-woo, Chairman of the Korea Electronics Association (KEA); and Kinsey Fabrizio, President and CEO of the Consumer Technology Association (CTA), which organizes CES in the United States. The ceremony unveiled the vision for K Connect AI and brought together the heads of the five exhibitions’ organizing institutions for a ceremony celebrating their cooperation. Together, these activities marked the launch of a business platform for AI-based advanced industries. During KES, CTA will also host CES Asia Unveiled Seoul to introduce CES 2027 and key technology trends that will drive future innovation. On October 21, an international conference at the KINTEX Grand Ballroom will bring together leading scholars from Korea and abroad and executives from global companies to discuss global trends in manufacturing AI and strategies for responding to them. In the morning keynote session, Professor Raffaello D’Andrea of ETH Zurich and Park Min-woo, President at Hyundai Motor Group, will deliver keynote addresses and take part in a dialogue on expanding the ecosystem for manufacturing AI and developing response strategies. In the afternoon industry session, executives from IBM, Qualcomm, POSCO, and other global companies will discuss real-world applications, including AI factories, industrial robots and physical AI, autonomous manufacturing, and the use of AI by global manufacturers. Drawing on these examples, they will present practical strategies and opportunities for cooperation that companies can consider when adopting AI. Throughout K Connect AI, a dedicated pavilion will explain the need for AI transformation in manufacturing (M.AX) and give visitors hands-on experience with how Korean companies apply AI. Exhibits and demonstrations will feature applications tested in real-world settings, including AI factories, AI systems for distribution and logistics, and humanoid robots. Around 130 overseas buyer companies with demand for industrial AI will also be invited to business matching meetings linked to the five exhibitions. To improve export outcomes from these meetings, buyers will receive lists of recommended company matches in advance, prepared using AI solutions. At the 21st Electronics and IT Day ceremony, held alongside the opening ceremony, 41 individuals received government awards for enhancing the standing of the electronics and IT industry. Recipients included Kim Young-jae, Chairman of Daeduck Electronics, who received the Gold Tower Order of Industrial Service Merit, and Cho Ji-tae, Senior Vice President of LG Innotek, who received the Silver Tower Order of Industrial Service Merit. “Exhibitions are evolving beyond venues for displaying and trading products into business platforms that bring technologi date2026-10-14

MOTIR Steps Up Efforts to Prevent Industrial Technology Leakage in Response to National Assembly Audit

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR, Minister JK Kim) plans to strengthen institutional measures and cooperation with relevant government agencies to make its response to technology leakage more effective. The plan follows concerns raised about industrial technology protection during MOTIR’s National Assembly audit on October 6, 2026, which the ministry takes seriously.   During the October 6 audit, lawmakers called for more staff and funding for technology protection at MOTIR, the ministry responsible for overseeing industrial technology protection, and the introduction of special judicial police powers to investigate technology leakage. They also called for closer cooperation between MOTIR and agencies such as the National Intelligence Service (NIS) and Korean National Police Agency (KNPA) to comprehensively manage data, including statistics on technology leakage, and develop technology protection policies. Lawmakers further called for clear criteria to determine when technology leakage offenses can be punished as espionage. To ensure stricter penalties, lawmakers also called for requiring courts to obtain MOTIR’s confirmation during court proceedings as to whether the technology in question constitutes industrial technology.   To address the growing threat of technology leakage, MOTIR amended the Act on Prevention of Divulgence and Protection of Industrial Technology in 2025. The amendments strengthened oversight of companies by introducing a system for the government to determine ex officio whether companies hold national core technologies, while also increasing penalties for technology leakage offenders, including higher fines. MOTIR has also continued to strengthen interagency cooperation on technology protection by operating the government-wide joint response team on technology leakage and the Industrial Technology Protection Policy Council.   However, as methods of technology leakage become more sophisticated and technology security grows increasingly important, concerns have been raised that existing measures and response systems alone may not be enough to build a robust and comprehensive technology protection system that meets the needs of the public and businesses. MOTIR takes the issues raised during the National Assembly audit seriously and plans to actively pursue the following policies to make its response to technology leakage more effective.   First, MOTIR will strengthen the security capabilities of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), universities, and other organizations vulnerable to technology leakage. The ministry will expand support for the installation of security equipment and consulting services for SMEs and other organizations, while strengthening oversight of key personnel to prevent technology leaks through personnel. The ministry will also step up inspections of companies’ technology protection practices to address emerging risks associated with the growing use of AI and the expansion of companies into overseas markets. Second, MOTIR will take steps to ensure that illicit profits from technology leakage are recovered. The ministry plans to broaden the scope of assets subject to confiscation and recognize technology development costs incurred by affected companies as damages. It will also allow courts to commission specialized institutions to assess damages, helping affected companies obtain meaningful relief. Third, MOTIR will work to prevent technology leakage offenders from evading punishment in court. It will establish a legal basis for courts to request MOTIR’s confirmation during trials as to whether the technology in question constitutes industrial technology. The ministry will also establish a legal basis to request data from intelligence and investigative agencies on the extent of damage, methods of leakage, and other relevant details to obtain an accurate picture of technology leakage. date2026-10-08

Korea Launches Full-Scale Efforts to Usher in a New Era of Nuclear Power Exports

On October 7, 2026, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR, Minister JK Kim) met with stakeholders across Korea’s nuclear sector at Seoul Club on the 18th floor of the Korea Press Center in Seoul, on the occasion of the launch and inaugural meeting of the Nuclear Export Leaders Forum. At the meeting, participants discussed how to usher in a new era of nuclear power exports. Worldwide interest in nuclear power, a reliable source of carbon-free electricity, has been growing as countries seek to address the climate crisis and energy security concerns and meet rising electricity demand from the spread of AI and data centers. This has also raised expectations for the overseas expansion of Korea’s nuclear industry. Against this backdrop, Korea’s nuclear sector has expressed the view that ushering in a new era of nuclear power exports would require a communication channel linking industry, academia, research institutes, and government to share information and exchange views on current issues. In response, the Korea Nuclear Association for International Cooperation (KNA) launched the Nuclear Export Leaders Forum with its member companies and other stakeholders. MOTIR and KNA supported the inaugural forum, and going forward, KNA and stakeholders across the nuclear sector will jointly develop its operating framework, run the forum independently, and hold meetings on a regular basis. From MOTIR, Deputy Minister for International Trade and Investment Kang Gam-chan and Lee Sang-eun, Director of the Nuclear Power Plant Cooperation Division,, both of whom oversaw the working-level negotiations on the Korea–U.S. Nuclear Power Framework, attended the forum. They explained the framework and shared anecdotes, giving participants a vivid account of the negotiations leading to the agreement with the United States. Participants also shared a range of views on entering overseas markets, including the United States. In particular, representatives of nuclear SMEs and middle market enterprises expressed high expectations for entering overseas nuclear markets, inquiring about opportunities to participate in supply chains for U.S. projects and the relevant requirements. In response to this interest, the government plans to actively support Korean companies in acquiring the design and manufacturing capabilities and meeting the qualification requirements needed to enter overseas nuclear supply chains. It will enhance around 30 existing support programs, including the “Nuclear Export First Step” program, support for certification and supplier registration, and export bond insurance. The government will also develop new support measures tailored to global markets, including the United States, and begin providing full-scale support in 2027. In addition, the government plans to invite global nuclear industry representatives to the 2026 Global Nuclear Energy & Safety Confex (NES 2026), to be held in Gyeongju from October 27 to 29, and organize supplier briefings, B2B meetings, and other activities. In his congratulatory remarks, Deputy Minister Kang thanked Korea’s nuclear sector and said, “The recent Korea–U.S. agreement was made possible by the hard work of the nuclear sector, which has built a strong nuclear ecosystem and successfully completed projects despite difficult conditions.” He expressed hope that, with global demand for nuclear power growing, Korea’s nuclear sector would come together and pool its capabilities to expand into global markets. He also stressed that the government would provide all possible support to usher in a new era of nuclear power exports. date2026-10-08

Inaugural Nuclear Export Leaders Forum

Kang Gam-chan, Deputy Minister for International Trade and Investment at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR, Minister JK Kim), attended the inaugural Nuclear Export Leaders Forum at the Korea Press Center in Seoul on October 7, 2026. Around 100 nuclear experts and representatives from industry, academia, research institutes, and government attended, including representatives from Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO), Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP), Doosan Enerbility, Hyundai Engineering & Construction, Moojin Keeyeon, Geumhwa Jungsoo, the Korea Atomic Industrial Forum (KAIF), and Seoul National University. Participants discussed future tasks for expanding Korea’s nuclear power exports. In his congratulatory remarks, Kang said the recent Korea–U.S. agreement was made possible by the hard work of Korea’s nuclear industry. He expressed hope that the sector would pool its capabilities to expand into global markets and stressed that the government would provide all possible support to usher in a new era of nuclear power exports.   date2026-10-07

MOTIR to Foster Anchor Mid-Sized Enterprises with Proprietary Technologies

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR, Minister JK Kim) held a meeting with representatives of mid-sized enterprises at HANA Micron, a mid-sized enterprise specializing in semiconductor back-end processing, in Asan on October 1, 2026. At the meeting, Minister Kim announced the Third Basic Plan for Promoting the Growth of Mid-Sized Enterprises (2026–2030).   The event was organized to present the government’s future policy direction for mid-sized enterprises at an industrial site, with the aim of helping them grow into key players in reinvigorating the Korean economy and leading its industrial ecosystem.   The Special Act on the Promotion of Growth and the Strengthening of Competitiveness of Middle-Standing Enterprises was enacted in 2014 as temporary legislation and made permanent in 2023, and has since supported the development of mid-sized enterprises. Under the Act, the government has set the overall direction and strategies for mid-sized enterprise policy through two previous basic plans and is now announcing the third.   Mid-sized enterprises account for just 1.5 percent of all companies in Korea, but account for 15 percent of production, 18 percent of exports and 14 percent of employment. They form the backbone of the Korean economy and serve as its “Middle Power,” linking large enterprises and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). In particular, 85 percent of mid-sized manufacturers are materials, parts and equipment (MPE) companies, supporting Korea’s industrial ecosystem and supply chains.   However, the number of companies growing from SMEs into mid-sized enterprises has recently declined, while more mid-sized enterprises are reverting to SME status. Structural barriers also persist: companies lose support and benefits as they grow from SMEs into mid-sized enterprises, resulting in a “support cliff,” while mid-sized enterprises face more regulation as they grow into large enterprises, resulting in a “growth hurdle.”   Third Basic Plan for Promoting the Growth of Mid-Sized Enterprises   With these challenges in mind, the government plans to pursue four strategies under the vision of “The Middle Power of the Korean Economy at the Center of Dynamic Growth.”   (1) Strengthen Core Capabilities: KRW 1 Trillion Deca-core Project to Help Mid-sized Enterprises Grow into Global Super Suppliers   MOTIR plans to foster “anchor mid-sized enterprises” that own proprietary technologies and intellectual property (IP). To this end, it will launch the Deca-core Project, a KRW 1 trillion initiative running from 2027 through 2035. Under the project, mid-sized enterprises will work with universities, research institutes and other partners to secure 10 technologies with a substantial competitive edge at the system level, moving beyond individual materials and parts.   A planning committee comprising industry representatives and technology and supply chain experts will be formed by the end of this year to identify candidate projects. Support will cover technology development across the core materials, parts, equipment, processes and finished products that make up each system, and extend to commercialization and overseas expansion, including patents, standards, market access and certification.   MOTIR also plans to support the independent development of items that mid-sized enterprises need in their operations and that are either subject to supply-chain bottlenecks or heavily dependent on overseas sources. It will identify candidate items based on trade data and industry demand surveys, and support companies in developing core technologies and having their technologies incorporated into global customers’ specifications.   (2) Strengthen the Growth Ladder: Rejuvenate Growth from SMEs to Mid-sized and Large Enterprises & date2026-10-01

Manufacturing AI Transformation (M.AX) CEO Hackathon

Minister JK Kim of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR) attended the Manufacturing AI Transformation (M.AX) CEO Hackathon in Sejong on September 21, 2026. Around 100 participants attended, including CEOs of manufacturers in regional industrial complexes and representatives from AI companies and related organizations. The event was designed for CEOs to identify which problems in their factories should be addressed first with AI and work with AI companies and experts to develop practical AX projects. Ahead of the hackathon, Minister Kim delivered a keynote address on the role of CEOs in the AI era. The 10 teams, comprising manufacturing companies serving as mentors and mentees and AI companies, presented solutions for using AI to address company-specific problems. Five teams received awards from the Minister of Trade, Industry and Resources: one top prize, two Excellence Awards and two Encouragement Awards. Minister Kim stressed that AI transformation goes beyond adopting technology and requires companies to redesign how they work. He also emphasized that CEOs need to take the lead in setting company-wide priorities and turning AI into action. date2026-09-23