Ministry of Trade Industry and Resources

Korea Advances AI-driven K-Bio Innovation

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR, Minister JK Kim), together with KoreaBIO, the Korea Planning & Evaluation Institute of Industrial Technology, the Korea Bio-cluster Federation, and the Medical Device Industry Promotion Foundation, hosted the 2025 Biotechnology Industry Day on Friday, November 28, at the Westin Josun Seoul. Biotechnology Industry Day is an annual event designed to recognize achievements in the biotechnology industry and promote broad collaboration across the sector. Now in its sixth year since its launch in 2020, this year’s event brought together more than 200 participants, including MOTIR Director General for Industrial Policy Park Dong-il, KoreaBIO Chairman Ko Han-sung, and Korea Planning & Evaluation Institute of Industrial Technology President Chun Yoon-jong, as well as award recipients and industry representatives. During the ceremony, the government presented a total of 34 awards to individuals and organizations that contributed to advancing the bio industry. A key highlight of this year’s event was the launch of the AI Bio Alliance, a subcommittee of the M.AX (Manufacturing AX) Alliance launched in September 2025. The AI Bio Alliance brings together Korean biotech companies, AI companies, and support organizations to jointly drive AI-powered innovation in the bio sector, including the development of commercially viable AI models specialized in biotechnology. In his congratulatory remarks, Director General Park noted that despite economic challenges such as tariff uncertainties, Korea’s biotechnology industry continues to strengthen its global competitiveness thanks to the dedication of industry leaders. He added, "The government will continue to provide strong policy support to help Korea emerge as one of the world’s top five bio powerhouses." date2025-11-28

Korea to Boost Recycling of Critical Minerals and Advanced Materials

The Korean Agency for Technology and Standards (KATS, President Kim Dae-ja) under the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR, Minister JK Kim) announced on November 27 the establishment and promulgation of Good Recycled (GR) quality-certification standards for three platinum-group metals—recycled platinum (Pt), recycled palladium (Pd), and recycled rhodium (Rh). The initiative aims to secure stable supply chains for national critical minerals and lay the foundation for revitalizing Korea’s resource-recycling industry. Platinum, palladium, and rhodium—three major platinum-group metals that serve as essential catalysts in various chemical reactions and as core raw materials in advanced-materials industries such as aerospace engines—have been designated as national critical minerals due to their significant economic and industrial impact. Over the years, Korean mineral-recycling companies have faced challenges in establishing market trust and accessing the recycled products market because of the absence of clear quality standards and credible testing and certification systems. To address these gaps, KATS worked through the Korean Resource Circulation Industry Certification Institute (KOCIRI) to collect industry feedback and develop GR standards for recycled Pt, Pd, and Rh. The new standards clearly define purity and impurity thresholds, testing methods, and labeling requirements for recycled products. With the introduction of these GR standards, recycled critical minerals can now obtain nationally recognized quality certification, which is expected to enhance confidence in product quality and support corporate ESG initiatives. This, in turn, will boost revenue growth across related industries and accelerate the development of Korea’s critical mineral recycling sector. President Kim stated, “The establishment of GR certification standards for recycled platinum-group critical minerals fills an industry-identified gap in recycling quality certification and provides a reliable foundation for companies to produce trusted recycled materials.” He added, “KATS will continue strengthening communication with industry stakeholders to expand standards for recycled metals in line with industrial needs and to further revitalize critical mineral recycling, supporting Korea’s broader transition toward a circular economy.” The GR standards for recycled platinum, palladium, and rhodium are available free of charge on the KOCIRI website (www.kociri.or.kr). date2025-11-28

Korea Accelerates International Standardization of Semiconductor Packaging Processes

The Korean Agency for Technology and Standards (KATS, President Kim Dae-ja) under the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR, Minister JK Kim) held the “2025 Semiconductor Standardization Forum” in Seoul on Wednesday, November 26, with more than 90 Korean semiconductor experts in attendance, including representatives from Samsung Electronics and SK hynix. The forum brought together experts from three of the world’s leading semiconductor standardization organizations— Technical Committee (TC) 47 (Semiconductor devices) of the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), Semiconductor Equipment and Materials International (SEMI), and the Joint Electron Device Engineering Council (JEDEC)—to discuss standardization trends in advanced semiconductor packaging (back-end processes) and AI-related semiconductors. During the IEC session, Korea introduced two new international standard proposals put forward at last week’s IEC TC 47 meeting in Japan. The proposals include a standard for evaluating hybrid bonding strength—used for direct wafer-to-wafer bonding without bumps (intermediate structures)—and a standard for assessing the precision of power semiconductor wafer dicing (cutting). These standards provide objective criteria for evaluating the reliability of wafer bonding and chip (die) separation processes. They are expected to ease specification alignment with global customers and reduce redundant testing for Korean semiconductor packaging and process-equipment manufacturers. SEMI, addressing standardization issues in automating advanced-packaging fabs, introduced ongoing standardization efforts for automated operations, including the transport and handling of semiconductor panels and large substrates. JEDEC highlighted the need for low-power Processing-In-Memory (PIM) solutions, presented relevant standardization measures, and shared recent trends in memory semiconductor standardization for on-device AI. President Kim stated, “Public international standards, such as those established by the IEC, have long served as a common language of trade under the WTO framework. However, the influence of global de facto standards, such as those driven by SEMI and JEDEC, has been increasing in recent years.” He emphasized, “The government will continue supporting Korean companies so they can play a leading role within these global standardization bodies.” date2025-11-27

Korea Ramps Up Public–Private Cooperation to Turn Carbon Neutrality into a Driver of Industrial Growth

The Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Resources (MOTIR, Minister JK Kim) and the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment (MCEE, Minister Kim Sung-whan) held an industry roundtable on Tuesday, November 25, to discuss Korea’s finalized 2035 Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) and government support measures for industrial carbon neutrality. Approved by the Cabinet on November 11, the 2035 NDC commits Korea to reduce net emissions to 53–61 percent below 2018 levels, with the industrial sector responsible for a 24.3–31.0 percent reduction. Addressing industry concerns that these ambitious targets may increase compliance burdens, the government explained that it will operate the Emissions Trading System (ETS) using the lower bound of the reduction targets (overall emissions: 53 percent, industry emissions: 24.3 percent) to minimize the burden. It also discussed additional relief measures permitted under current regulations, such as eligible offsets and additional allowance allocations. MOTIR outlined its key initiatives for 2026, which include: launching a large-scale “Industry GX Plus” R&D program worth over KRW 5 trillion to develop industrial carbon-neutral technologies; supporting incentive-based facility upgrades through auctions and voluntary agreements; and actively promoting efficient and tangible support policies, such as large enterprise–SME carbon partnerships. Beginning in 2026, MCEE will also: strengthen support for large-scale reduction projects by major emitters; review the introduction of Carbon Contracts for Difference (CCfD), which are currently being implemented in Europe, after 2027; and draw more private capital into carbon-neutral investments by offering additional interest rate incentives for projects with substantial mitigation outcomes. Park Dong-il, Director General for Industrial Policy at MOTIR, emphasized that “the 2035 NDC can serve as a pivotal opportunity for Korean industries to transition toward low-carbon, high value-added Green Transformation, and the government will provide active support to ensure this shift.” Ahn Se-chang, Director General for Climate and Energy Policy at MCEE, noted that “the 2035 NDC is not just a reduction commitment but also a blueprint for Korea’s future economic growth. We will spare no effort in providing large-scale support to ensure its successful implementation across industries.” The government will actively gather industry feedback through sector-specific relay roundtables and finalize a whole-of-government “K-GX Strategy” in the first half of 2026. date2025-11-25

MOTIR and SNU Sign MOU to Strengthen M.AX Alliance Cooperation

Minister Kim Jung-kwan of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR) attended the signing ceremony for the “MOU on M.AX Alliance Cooperation between MOTIR and Seoul National University,” held at Seoul National University on November 24. The ceremony was joined by SNU President Ryu Hong-lim and heads of related research institutes. Participants discussed cooperation in manufacturing AI, data utilization, and talent development under the M.AX Alliance. Minister Kim emphasized that the combination of the Alliance’s world-class manufacturing capabilities with SNU’s creative research and outstanding talent will accelerate Korea’s vision of becoming a global leader in Manufacturing AX. date2025-11-25

SNU and M.AX Alliance to Jointly Develop AI Models for Humanoids, Autonomous Vehicles, and AI Factories

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR, Minister JK Kim) and Seoul National University (SNU, President Ryu Hong-lim) signed an MOU on November 24 to strengthen cooperation between SNU and the M.AX Alliance. Launched by MOTIR and the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) in September, the M.AX Alliance includes more than 1,000 participating organizations, including Samsung Electronics, Hyundai Motor Company, and Rainbow Robotics. MOTIR previously announced that through the Alliance, the government aims to innovate manufacturing processes and foster new industries such as humanoids, creating more than KRW 100 trillion in added value by 2030 and positioning Korea as a global leader in Manufacturing AX. SNU to Fully Participate in the M.AX Alliance With this MOU, SNU is expected to begin fully participating in the M.AX Alliance’s core programs, particularly in AI model development, manufacturing data utilization, and talent development. ❶ SNU will jointly develop AI models for humanoids, autonomous vehicles, and AI factories together with manufacturing companies in the Alliance. The companies will provide SNU with the data and platforms—robots, vehicles, and factories—needed for developing AI models in each field. The developed AI models will then be supplied back to the companies for integration into their products and factories. MOTIR recently launched related R&D projects to support this initiative. ❷ SNU and the M.AX Alliance will cooperate on manufacturing data utilization. The two will develop a plan by next year for the joint use of manufacturing data secured through their respective R&D activities and projects such as the AI Factory. The plan will outline methods for preprocessing, standardizing, and anonymizing data so it can be applied to AI model development and demonstration. To support this, MOTIR will develop and implement a program next year to build and utilize a manufacturing data repository. ❸ SNU and the Alliance will also work closely on talent development. MOTIR will leverage industry–academia cooperation projects and talent development programs to create various opportunities for outstanding SNU students to participate in Alliance activities. Under the MOU, the SNU Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation will select promising students and provide them with opportunities to participate in R&D projects and internship programs within the Alliance. Next Steps Following the MOU, SNU and MOTIR will expand discussions through one-on-one collaboration between six specialized research institutes at SNU and corresponding subcommittees of the M.AX Alliance. Minister Kim stated, “Once the world-class manufacturing capabilities of M.AX Alliance companies combine with SNU’s creative research and outstanding talent, the vision of becoming the world’s leading manufacturing AX nation will be well within reach.” date2025-11-24

Groundbreaking Ceremony for Amkor Korea’s New Test Facility in Incheon

Kang Gam-chan, Director General for Trade and Investment at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources, attended the groundbreaking ceremony for Amkor Korea’s new test facility at the company’s Songdo site in Incheon on Wednesday, November 19.   He joined Kevin Engel, COO of Amkor Technology; Yun Won-sok, Commissioner of the Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority; and representatives from partner companies including Samsung Electronics for the groundbreaking performance, and then toured the facility.   In his congratulatory remarks, Director General Kang expressed gratitude for Amkor’s decision to invest in Korea despite intensifying global competition in the semiconductor sector. He added that the Korean government will work to ensure that investment commitments made during APEC proceed without delay by expanding cash-grant support, strengthening location and tax incentives, and improving regulatory frameworks. date2025-11-21

Amkor Korea Launches Investment in High-Tech Semiconductor Packaging and Testing

Kang Gam-chan, Director General for Trade and Investment at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR, Minister JK Kim), attended the groundbreaking ceremony for Amkor Technology Korea’s new semiconductor test facility in Songdo, Incheon, on Wednesday, November 19. Amkor Technology traces its origins to Anam Industrial, Korea’s first company to enter the semiconductor industry in 1968. After overcoming the 1997 Asian financial crisis through investment from the U.S., the company has grown into a leading global specialist in semiconductor packaging and testing technologies. Amkor Korea plans to build three production lines and install new equipment to secure mass-production packaging capabilities and testing technologies for advanced semiconductors. The company also aims to expand cooperation with domestic semiconductor materials, parts, and equipment suppliers to strengthen Korea’s AI semiconductor ecosystem. This groundbreaking is particularly meaningful as it marks a tangible outcome less than a month after global companies announced investment plans at the “Global Investor Partnership” event during APEC 2025 on October 29. Following the Songdo facility expansion, Amkor Technology may pursue additional investment in its packaging plant in Gwangju, contributing to balanced regional development. In his congratulatory remarks, Director General Kang thanked Amkor for its bold decision to invest in Korea amid intensifying global competition for semiconductor leadership. He stated, “We hope Amkor Korea’s investment will signal further investment expansion by global companies in Korea.” He emphasized that “the Korean government will ensure that the investment commitments made by global companies during APEC are carried out without delay by expanding cash-grant support, strengthening location and taxation incentives, and improving regulatory frameworks. date2025-11-20

Graphene Square Opens Pohang Plant, Advancing Graphene Commercialization and Regional Growth

The opening ceremony for Graphene Square’s new Pohang plant—one of the region’s key relocated enterprises—was held on Tuesday, November 18, in Pohang, Gyeongsangbuk-do. Graphene Square is the world’s first company to commercialize mass-synthesis technology for graphene and apply it to real-world products. Using its chemical vapor deposition (CVD)-based graphene synthesis technology, the company leads the global market in large-scale production and commercialization of high-quality graphene. The newly completed Pohang plant establishes the world’s first mass-production system for CVD graphene films, with an annual production capacity of 300,000 square meters. This marks a major starting point for full-scale graphene commercialization. It is also expected to serve as an important milestone in Korea’s balanced national development, positioning Pohang—designated in August as an Industrial Crisis Response Area—as a rising hub for the graphene industry alongside steel. The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR, Minister JK Kim) has consistently supported the graphene industry by providing R&D assistance for graphene-related technologies and by designating Graphene Square’s technology as an “advanced technology” under the Act on Prevention of Divulgence and Protection of Industrial Technology in September. MOTIR also contributed to the establishment of the Pohang plant by providing Local Investment Promotion Subsidies, aiding Pohang’s efforts to attract the facility. In his congratulatory remarks, Kim Seong-yeol, Director General for Industrial Infrastructure at MOTIR, stated, "Graphene is a core material that will determine competitiveness in future high-tech industries. The government will continue to support the graphene industry through various measures such as identifying new applications and improving regulatory conditions.” He added, “Attracting the graphene plant to Pohang demonstrates that regions outside the Seoul metropolitan area can secure major high-tech industries, providing a successful model for balanced national development that goes beyond simple regional parity and enables genuine regional growth. Building on the ‘5-Poles, 3-Specialized Zones’ strategy, we will continue to create a favorable investment environment by improving infrastructure and living conditions, expanding local investment subsidies, and supporting regional efforts to attract innovative companies.” date2025-11-18

K-Mobility Drives the Future of Innovation

Korea’s Prime Minister Kim Min-seok visited Kia’s Hwaseong plant on November 14 to commemorate the new EVO Plant facilities and chair the first Future Mobility Industry Strategy Dialogue. While the Korea–U.S. tariff agreement has lowered auto and parts tariffs to 15 percent and eased market uncertainty, the automotive industry continues to face major challenges, including intensifying global competition in AI-based autonomous driving, maintaining domestic manufacturing capabilities, achieving carbon neutrality, transforming the parts ecosystem, and diversifying export markets. To drive a new leap forward for Korea’s automotive sector, the government unveiled the K-Mobility Global Leadership Strategy with the following key elements: 1.    Overcoming U.S. Tariff Challenges – To ease exporters’ remaining burden despite tariff reduction, the government will expand policy finance to more than KRW 15 trillion in 2026 and apply tariff quotas to raw materials used for vehicle and parts production. Korea will also boost EV subsidies to KRW 936 billion in 2026 (up from KRW 715 billion in 2025) and launch a new financing program for transport operators adopting electric and hydrogen buses.  2.    Establishing the K-Mobility Mother Factory – In response to global protectionism and Korean companies’ overseas market expansion, the government will strengthen policy support to maintain domestic production at more than 4 million vehicles and enhance manufacturing quality. It will also restructure the incentive framework for production, investment, and R&D in eco-friendly and advanced automotive components, provide up to KRW 1 million in additional EV transition incentives, and promote auto and parts workplace innovation through HTC-Bootcamp. The government also aims to transition 70 percent of internal combustion engine (ICE) parts companies into future mobility suppliers, designate 200 specialized parts companies by 2030, advance Industrial GX R&D, and foster 70,000 future mobility specialists by 2033. 3.    Readiness for the AI Autonomous Era – Korea will scale up autonomous vehicle R&D to close the technology gap with the U.S. and China by 2030, develop an E2E-AI autonomous driving model by 2027, and establish standard platforms for Software-Defined Vehicles (SDVs) and AI-Defined Vehicles (AIDVs). The government aims to mass-produce autonomous vehicles by 2028 and will finalize all related legal and institutional improvements by 2026. Korea will also establish a comprehensive AI mobility test complex to support real-world autonomous driving demonstrations in urban environments, develop guidelines for autonomous-driving data sharing, and prioritize regulatory improvements, such as permitting the use of original video data, easing temporary operation-zone restrictions, and expanding pilot zones. 4.    Expanding K-Future Mobility Globally – To accelerate global expansion, the government will strengthen market development across seven high-potential countries. Domestically, it will establish a KRW 50 billion future mobility industrial technology innovation fund and leverage the National Growth Fund. Korea will further enhance regional competitiveness through industry–academia–research clusters, supporting the global growth of its future mobility industry. date2025-11-14