Ministry of Trade Industry and Resources

Boom-Up Korea Week 2025 Opening Ceremony

Minister for Trade Yeo Han-koo of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources attended the Boom-Up Korea Week 2025 Opening Ceremony on Tuesday, October 21, at KINTEX in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province.  The event was joined by KOTRA President and CEO Kang Kyung Sung, officials from related organizations, and representatives from about 4,000 promising export companies in the materials, parts, and equipment (MPE), ICT, services, and consumer goods sectors.  Minister Yeo participated in the opening performance of the event and toured the Boom-Up Week theme hall, corporate exhibition hall, and consultation hall showcasing Korea’s key export industries.   date2025-10-21

FDI Arrivals to Korea Edge Down 2% through Q3 2025

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR) announced today that foreign direct investment (FDI) pledges to Korea in the first three quarters of 2025 (cumulative, Jan–Sep) decreased 18.0 percent year-on-year to USD 20.7 billion, while FDI arrivals over the same period fell 2.0 percent to $11.3 billion. By type, greenfield investment pledges dropped 6.1 percent to $17.8 billion, while M&A pledges plunged 54.0 percent to $2.9 billion amid a global slowdown in large-scale acquisitions. In contrast, greenfield arrivals rose 23.0 percent to $8.2 billion. By region, FDI pledges from the United States surged 58.9 percent to $5.0 billion, driven by investments in chemicals, distribution, and ICT, while pledges from the EU, Japan, and China fell 36.6 percent, 22.8 percent, and 36.9 percent, respectively. By industry, manufacturing-sector pledges decreased 29.1 percent to $8.7 billion, with gains in transport machinery offset by declines in electrical and electronic components. Service-sector pledges dropped 6.9 percent to $11.1 billion, but investment in distribution and information and communications increased, supported by sustained interest in AI-related fields such as data centers, autonomous driving software, and robotics.   date2025-10-15

Korea’s ICT Exports Hit Record High in September

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources and the Ministry of Science and ICT announced on October 15 that Korea’s exports of ICT goods in September 2025 reached an all-time high of USD 25.4 billion (up 14.0 percent year-on-year), while imports rose 10.4 percent to $13.8 billion. The trade balance recorded a surplus of $11.7 billion, the second-largest on record. Despite ongoing global trade uncertainties, ICT exports reached their highest level ever, led by record-breaking semiconductor shipments for the second consecutive month, along with stronger exports of displays and communication equipment. Semiconductor exports hit a new record as memory prices continued to rise and demand for high-value products such as DDR5 and HBM remained strong. Display exports rebounded as OLED panel applications expanded in IT devices and demand recovered for mobile phones and laptops. Communication equipment exports grew on robust demand for automotive and 5G base station components in the United States and India. Meanwhile, mobile phone exports declined due to weaker component shipments, though strong finished product exports helped offset the drop. Exports of computers and peripherals also fell, affected by last year’s surge in SSD exports. By destination, exports increased to Taiwan (up 53.5 percent), Vietnam (up 20.8 percent), the EU (up 22.8 percent), Japan (up 13.0 percent), and China including Hong Kong (up 1.1 percent), driven largely by strong semiconductor shipments. Exports to the United States, however, fell 4.0 percent for the second consecutive month. ICT imports rose 10.4 percent year-on-year to $13.8 billion, with increases in displays, mobile phones, and computers/peripherals.    date2025-10-14

Korea Reappointed to ISO Technical Management Board

The Korean Agency for Technology and Standards (KATS, Administrator Kim Dae-ja) under the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources announced that Korea has been reappointed to the Technical Management Board (TMB) of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) at the 47th ISO General Assembly, held in Kigali, Rwanda, from October 6 to 10. As a result, Korea will continue serving as a TMB member through 2028, with Professor Moon Young-Jun of KAIST representing the country in shaping ISO’s technical policy decisions.   The TMB is ISO’s key decision-making body that oversees the organization’s standardization activities, including the establishment and dissolution of technical committees, coordination among committees, and appointment of committee chairs. Korea’s reappointment demonstrates renewed international recognition of the nation’s strong standardization capabilities. During the General Assembly, Korea also proposed the establishment of a new ISO technical committee on GPS-based personal location service technologies and hosted a workshop to rally support from ISO member countries. Additionally, Korea signed MOUs with standardization organizations in countries such as Canada and Italy, and invited key stakeholders to attend the upcoming International AI Standards Summit scheduled for December. KATS Administrator Kim Dae-ja stated, “With this reappointment to the ISO Technical Management Board, Korea has further solidified its influence in the field of international standardization. We will continue to demonstrate leadership within ISO and strengthen our position as a trusted leader in global standardization.”   date2025-10-13

Korea to Strengthen R&D Support System for Global Foreign-Invested Companies

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR) announced that it held the 2nd Korea–Global Innovation Investment Alliance on Wednesday, October 1, at the Toray Advanced Materials Korea Magok R&D Center. The meeting brought together foreign-invested companies newly joining the 2025 FIE-dedicated R&D program, along with Korean public research institutes and investment associations, to strengthen the R&D support system for FIEs. To promote R&D by FIEs in Korea, MOTIR launched the Global Industry–Technology Cooperation R&D Program in 2024 and has steadily expanded its budget (KRW 1.5 billion in 2024 → KRW 4.5 billion in 2025 → KRW 6 billion proposed for 2026). The ministry also plans to diversify the scale and forms of support to improve the quality of R&D outcomes. This meeting expanded participation beyond FIEs and public institutions to include public research institutes and investment-related associations. Through additional R&D investment by FIEs (KRW 25 billion), technology development support, and investor relations (IR) activities, the Alliance will actively support SMEs participating in projects to gain entry into global supply chains. At the same time, an MOU was signed among participating FIEs, research institutes, universities, and industry partners to strengthen cooperation. Key areas include policy measures to expand investment by selected FIEs, stronger R&D collaboration with Korean research institutes, and support for IR activities by Korean SMEs. The initiative aims to encourage the inflow of leading global technologies into Korea and broaden participation in the innovation ecosystem. Yu Beop-min, Director-General for Investment Policy at MOTIR, stated, “The government will continue to expand R&D support for foreign-invested companies as part of Korea’s efforts to become a global R&D hub, contribute not only to revitalizing regional economies and boosting domestic employment, but also to fostering shared growth between global and Korean companies amid supply chain restructuring.”   date2025-10-02

Korea’s Exports Hit Record High in September

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR) announced on October 1 that Korea’s exports in September 2025 rose 12.7 percent year-on-year to USD 66.0 billion, while imports increased 8.2 percent to $56.4 billion. The trade balance posted a surplus of $9.6 billion, the largest in seven years since September 2018. Exports reached an all-time monthly high for the first time in three and a half years, continuing growth for the fourth consecutive month. Third-quarter exports also set a record at $185.0 billion, averaging over $60.0 billion per month. On a daily average basis, exports came to $2.8 billion, the second-highest September figure on record, reflecting the impact of more working days. By item, 10 of Korea’s 15 major export categories posted growth. Semiconductor exports jumped 22.0 percent to $16.6 billion, hitting a new record for the second straight month on strong demand for high-value memory such as HBM and DDR5. Automobile exports rose 16.8 percent to $6.4 billion, the highest ever for September, supported by robust sales of electric, hybrid, and internal combustion vehicles, as well as a sharp increase in used car exports. Ship exports grew 21.9 percent to $2.9 billion, marking seven straight months of growth. Biohealth exports also reached a record high of $1.7 billion (up 35.8 percent). By region, exports increased in eight of Korea’s nine major markets. Exports to China rose 0.5 percent to $11.7 billion, ending a four-month decline. Exports to ASEAN climbed 17.8 percent to $11.1 billion, the highest ever for September, while exports to the EU surged 19.3 percent to $7.2 billion, also a record high. Exports to the Middle East, India, Latin America, Japan, and CIS countries all posted strong growth, while exports to the United States fell 1.4 percent to $10.3 billion due to slower shipments amid tariff-related conditions. MOTIR Minister Kim Jung-kwan stated, “Korea’s exports set a new all-time record in September, a valuable achievement despite difficult conditions such as slower shipments to the U.S. amid tariff-related challenges. This demonstrates the ability of Korean companies to quickly diversify their export markets.” He added, “Facing persistent uncertainties, including ongoing tariff negotiations, the government will continue to strengthen policy support to ensure our companies sustain their export competitiveness.”   date2025-10-01

MOTIE Minister Conducts Emergency Inspection of Response System for Information System Disruptions

On Sunday, September 28, Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Kim Jung-kwan assessed the damage to MOTIE’s information systems caused by the fire at the National Information Resources Service and discussed key measures and response plans. The meeting focused on ensuring uninterrupted public services such as strategic goods export reviews, applications for investigations into unfair trade practices, and applications for electricity business licenses, which were expected to be affected by the disruptions. For services that cannot be processed online due to the outage, applications such as licenses will be accepted manually, with results notified by mail or fax, and status checks available via telephone or related agency websites. For strategic goods export reviews, temporary public application and processing methods will be posted on the Korea Security Agency of Trade and Industry (KOSTI) website (kosti.or.kr), and guidance emails will be sent to all Yestrade members (about 50,000 companies). Applications for determinations and export licenses will temporarily be accepted by email, and MOTIE will expand review personnel to minimize delays caused by offline processing. Applications and investigation notices for unfair trade practice cases will be handled in writing, and closure notices will be sent by fax or mail. Mining rights permit applications will be processed manually after being submitted by visit or fax, with applicants guided accordingly by phone. Electricity business licenses will be processed through phone guidance and in-person submission, and results will be announced on the Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) and Korea Power Exchange websites. In connection with this, MOTIE will post contact information for each service area on its social media channels, including Instagram, X, and YouTube, so that the public can directly contact the relevant offices. Immediately after the incident on Friday, September 26, MOTIE organized an emergency response team (headed by Deputy Minister for Planning and Coordination) and activated a 24-hour emergency duty system. The ministry is also using its official blog and social media channels to promptly share updates on the disruption, while providing the main service hotline (1577-0900) and direct contact numbers for affected services to minimize public inconvenience, difficulties, and damages. A full review of MOTIE’s information systems revealed that 21 systems (11 public services and 10 internal)—including the ministry’s main website and those of many affiliated agencies—were inaccessible or not functioning. The Korean Standards & Certification Information System is currently operating through an alternative page offering equivalent services. Minister Kim also ordered a comprehensive review of ongoing project notices and announcements to prepare for the possibility of a prolonged system recovery, deciding to extend application deadlines and notice periods as needed. Before the damage assessment meeting, Minister Kim visited the KTNET Electronic Trade Control Center to examine its operations and emphasized the need to prevent internet service disruptions, ensure swift responses in the event of incidents, strengthen cybersecurity and personal data protection, and guarantee the reliable use of information networks to minimize public inconvenience during government system outages.   date2025-09-29

Korea Sought Export Diversification and New Trade Norms at ASEAN Economic Ministers’ Meeting

Yeo Han-koo, Minister for Trade at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE), attended the ASEAN Economic Ministers’ (AEM) Meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, from Tuesday, September 24, to Wednesday, September 25. The meeting brought together economic and trade ministers from the 10 ASEAN member states and major dialogue partners to discuss economic issues ahead of the ASEAN Summit, scheduled for October 26 to 27. Korea participated in the ASEAN–Korea, ASEAN+3 (Korea, China, Japan), East Asia Summit (EAS) Economic Ministers’ Meetings, and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Ministers’ Meeting, engaging in discussions on regional cooperation in areas such as digital transformation, supply chains, and climate change. Minister Yeo also held bilateral meetings on the sidelines with counterparts from the United States, the European Union, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, and other key ASEAN countries.   date2025-09-26

New Free Economic Zone Designated in Ansan, Logistics Land Secured in Busan–Jinhae Bobae District

A new free economic zone has been designated near Hanyang University’s ERICA Campus in Ansan. The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE, Minister Kim Jung-kwan) announced that at the 145th Free Economic Zone Committee Meeting held on September 22, it approved the designation of a new district within the Gyeonggi Free Economic Zone and an amendment to the development plan for the Bobae District in the Busan–Jinhae Free Economic Zone. The newly designated Ansan Science Valley (ASV) District (1.66㎢, Sangnok-gu, Ansan) aims to establish a global R&D-based hub for advanced robotics and manufacturing by leveraging the research and industrial capacity of nearby universities, national research institutes, and the Banwol–Sihwa National Industrial Complex. With robust surrounding infrastructure, including an established industry–academia–research ecosystem and residential environment, the district is expected to grow into a center of future global high-tech industries. The amended development plan for the Bobae District in the Busan–Jinhae Free Economic Zone responds to changes in investment and tenant demand, particularly the need for greater logistics capacity at Busan New Port. It adds logistics as an eligible industry for industrial-use land, calls for the construction of underground cold-chain logistics facilities, and adjusts land use and road layouts to meet tenant demand. These measures will enable the timely supply of logistics land and support the growth of the complex logistics and transport industry, one of the four strategic industries of the Busan–Jinhae Free Economic Zone. Lee Hyeon-jo, Director-General of the Free Economic Zone Planning Office at MOTIE, stated, “We will work closely with each free economic zone authority to ensure that the newly designated Ansan Science Valley District and the revised Bobae District development plan proceed smoothly.”   date2025-09-25

KRW 96.1 Billion in Support for 16 Local Investment Companies

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE, Minister Kim Jung-kwan) announced that at the 3rd Local Investment Promotion Subsidy Review Committee Meeting, held from September 18 to 19, it decided to provide KRW 96.1 billion in subsidies (including KRW 58.7 billion in national funds) to 16 local investment companies. This support is expected to attract a total of KRW 612.1 billion in regional investment and create 771 local jobs. The Local Investment Promotion Subsidy program is designed to promote balanced national development and encourage corporate investment in regional areas. It provides subsidies, jointly funded by the central and local governments, covering 4 to 50 percent of investment costs for companies relocating from the Seoul metropolitan area or expanding facilities in regional areas. The 16 companies selected for this round of support were chosen by local governments based on investment scale and employment impact. They include new and expanded investments in Busan, Gwangju, Daejeon, North Gyeongsang, South Gyeongsang, Daegu, North Chungcheong, South Chungcheong, and North Jeolla. By sector, the companies comprise six in automobiles, two in electrical and electronics, three in food, two in pharmaceuticals, and three in chemicals and other fields, reflecting diverse investments centered on regional key industries. As of the first half of 2025, MOTIE had provided KRW 143.8 billion (including KRW 86.0 billion in national funds) in subsidies to 23 local investment companies, attracting a total of KRW 708.0 billion in private investment and creating around 1,010 local jobs. MOTIE also stated that starting in 2026, it will further strengthen support for local investment companies and firms relocating from the Seoul metropolitan area, including expanding subsidy limits and broadening coverage for regions with lower levels of development.   date2025-09-25