Ministry of Trade Industry and Resources

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

On September 28, 2025, Minister JK (Jung-Kwan) Kim of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) assessed the damage to MOTIE’s information systems caused by the fire at the National Information Resources Service and discussed key response measures and 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—that 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. Results will be notified by mail or fax, and application status may be checked 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 notified 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 contact the relevant offices directly. Immediately after the incident on September 26, 2026, 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 and potential damages. A full review of MOTIE’s information systems revealed that 21 systems—11 public services and 10 internal systems—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, and decided 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. He 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 operation 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, Minister JK Kim), attended the ASEAN Economic Ministers’ (AEM) Meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on September 24–September 25, 2025. 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, 2025. 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. Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo said, “The AEM Meeting is an important venue for expanding cooperation with ASEAN, a core partner under Korea’s New Southern Policy, in emerging areas such as digital trade.” He added that “the meeting offers bilateral opportunities to discuss economic issues with participating countries, including FTA negotiations and upgrades.” Minister Yeo noted, “Korea will use the meeting to diversify export markets for Korean companies and help shape new trade rules, including in digital trade.” date2025-09-26

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

A new free economic zone (FEZ) will be designated near Hanyang University’s ERICA Campus in Ansan. The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE, Minister JK Kim ) announced that at the 145th Free Economic Zone Committee Meeting held on September 22, 2025, it approved the designation of a new district within the Gyeonggi FEZ and an amendment to the development plan for the Bobae District in the Busan–Jinhae FEZ. 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 FEZ responds to changes in investment and tenant demand, including greater logistics demand at Busan New Port. It adds logistics as an eligible industry category for land designated for industrial facilities, 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 FEZ. 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 smooth implementation of the newly designated Ansan Science Valley District and the revised Bobae District development plan.” date2025-09-25

KRW 96.1 Billion in Support for 16 Local Investment Companies

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE, Minister JK Kim) announced that at the Third Local Investment Promotion Subsidy Review Committee Meeting held on September 18–19, 2025, 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 a diverse range of 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 less developed regions. date2025-09-25

Tariff Response 119 Expands On-Site Support System

Minister JK (Jung-Kwan) Kim of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) chaired a roundtable with steel and aluminum derivative companies and visited the “Tariff Response 119 (1600-7119)” site at KOTRA on September 22, 2025. The visit was arranged to hear directly from companies most affected by U.S. tariff measures on steel and aluminum derivatives and to review the operation of the Tariff Response 119 support system. At the meeting, MOTIE announced plans to upgrade the existing Tariff Response 119 service into “Tariff Response 119 Plus.” Since its launch in February 2025, Tariff Response 119 has received and provided consultations on 7,708 tariff-related cases as of September 18, establishing itself as an integrated consultation channel. However, challenges remained in resolving multi-agency issues and incorporating feedback into new policies and services. To address this, MOTIE will expand the functions of Tariff Response 119 beyond case reception, consultation, and program guidance to include case resolution through inter-agency collaboration and feeding results back into new services and policies. Agencies attending the event, including the Korea Trade Insurance Corporation (K-SURE), the Korea Institute of Origin Information (KIOI), and other related organizations, will designate 119 officers to ensure issues KOTRA cannot resolve on its own can be handled jointly. MOTIE will continue to expand collaboration with export-related organizations and reflect analysis of tariff issue types and best practices into new services and policies. New services reflecting on-site needs will also be launched this month, including: (1) support for submitting company position papers on tariff issues to the U.S. government, (2) consulting on applications for the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) e-ruling system, and (3) assistance in responding to CBP post-verification data requests. A specialized support program for steel and aluminum derivative companies will also be introduced, featuring a dedicated consultation desk and one-on-one advisory services with local U.S. experts. During the roundtable, industry representatives raised three main concerns: (1) declining price competitiveness due to tariffs, (2) difficulties in calculating content value for derivative products, and (3) limited access to tariff-related information. In response, MOTIE and relevant agencies pledged to accelerate implementation of the “Post-U.S. Tariff Negotiation Support Measures” announced on September 3, 2025, and to strengthen policy feedback through Tariff Response 119 Plus. Following the roundtable, Minister Kim visited the Steel Derivatives Tariff Response Briefing and Consultation Session held at KOTRA. The event provided around 200 steel and aluminum derivative companies with accurate updates on U.S. tariff policies and strategies to mitigate tariff burdens. More than 100 affected companies also took part in one-on-one consultations with lawyers and customs experts from Korea and the United States for tailored advice. Furthermore, a dedicated support booth was set up to showcase the “Ten On-Site Support Programs” announced on September 3, 2025. The programs covered short-term management support, steel derivatives, burden reduction, and alternative market development, giving companies hands-on access to government services. Minister Kim toured the booth with a participating company (STU), checking tariff rates by HS code through the online tariff system and reviewing content value calculations for steel and aluminum derivatives. He then visited the consultation area to hear directly from company representatives. Minister Kim stressed, “In today’s changing trade environment, the priority is to develop support measures that reflect companies’ on-site needs. We will move ahead with the expansion of Tariff Response 119 into Tariff Response 119 date2025-09-23

The 4th Korea–Vietnam Plus Joint Working Group Meeting

Kim Jong-chul, Director General for International Trade Relations at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE), co-chaired the 4th Korea–Vietnam Plus Joint Working Group meeting at the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Seoul on Monday, September 15, 2025. The meeting was attended virtually by Do Quoc Hung, Deputy Director General for Foreign Market Development at Vietnam’s Ministry of Industry and Trade, as well as delegations from both governments and representatives from KEPCO, KOTRA, GS1 Korea, and other related organizations. After the opening remarks, the two sides reviewed bilateral trade and investment trends, implementation plans for the MOU on nuclear energy workforce development, and follow-up measures from the recent summit. date2025-09-16

MOTIE Holds Director-Level Meetings with Vietnam

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE, Minister JK Kim) held virtual meetings with Vietnam’s Ministry of Finance on September 12, 2025, and with the Ministry of Industry and Trade on September 15, 2025. The discussions focused on implementing the outcomes of the Korea-Vietnam summit in August, held during General Secretary To Lam’s state visit to Korea, and on follow-up measures. The first director-level meeting between MOTIE and Vietnam’s Ministry of Finance on September 12 was co-chaired by Kim Jong-chul, Director General for International Trade Relations, and Do Van Su, Director General of the Foreign Investment Agency. Participants included representatives from the Korean Embassy in Vietnam, the Vietnamese Embassy in Korea, and related organizations such as the Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO), the Korea Institute for Advancement of Technology, and the Korea Federation of Textile Industries. Discussions addressed key business challenges, including: (1) prompt resolution of delayed VAT refunds for Korean textile companies operating in Vietnam, (2) succession of special incentives following HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering’s acquisition of Doosan Vina, and (3) timely support for the implementation of the global minimum tax. The two sides also reviewed proposals from the Vietnamese Ministry of Finance on cooperation in supply chains, energy, infrastructure development, and collaboration between public enterprises under both ministries. While the two ministries have co-hosted the Korea-Vietnam Business Forum, this meeting marked the establishment of their first regular consultation mechanism. Both sides agreed to use it as a starting point for continued cooperation in foreign investment, corporate support, and infrastructure development, including nuclear power and supply chains. The Vietnamese Ministry of Finance noted that although VAT refunds and incentive succession fall under local government jurisdiction, it is also holding direct consultations at the ministry level. The ministry added that it will actively support Korean companies on other issues, such as stable power supply and infrastructure expansion. On September 15, the fourth Korea-Vietnam Plus Joint Working Group meeting was held, co-chaired by Kim Jong-chul and Do Quoc Hung, Deputy Director General for Foreign Market Development at Vietnam’s Ministry of Industry and Trade. Participants included officials from both embassies, the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency, GS1 Korea, KEPCO, and other relevant organizations. Launched in September 2023, the Joint Working Group serves as a director-level hotline platform to discuss trade and investment promotion measures, with the shared goal of expanding bilateral trade to USD 150 billion by 2030. In addition to trade and investment cooperation, the platform also addresses challenges faced by Korean companies operating in Vietnam. At the meeting, the two sides reviewed the status of bilateral trade and investment and discussed action plans to achieve the USD 150 billion trade target by 2030. They also examined follow-up measures from the summit, including plans for an MOU on nuclear energy workforce development. The Korean side requested support to address challenges facing Korean renewable energy investors in Vietnam, particularly on electricity sales, as well as on improving the regulatory framework for participation in LNG power projects. The Vietnamese side responded that it is actively working with relevant ministries and agencies to identify solutions and will share the results promptly. MOTIE stated that it will continue to actively support Korean investors in Vietnam through multilayered consultation channels, including the ministerial-level Korea-Vietnam Joint Industrial Committee and the Korea-Vietnam FTA Joint Committee, to help Korean businesses operate with greater predictability in the Vietnames date2025-09-16

Korea Holds K-FEZ Day 2025 to Boost Global Investment in Free Economic Zones

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) hosted K-FEZ Day 2025 at the Shilla Hotel in Seoul on September 4, 2025, to expand global investment in Korean Free Economic Zones (KFEZs). The event drew around 240 participants, including members of the diplomatic corps, representatives from foreign chambers of commerce, and foreign-invested enterprises (FIEs) in Korea. The program featured the strategic industries of the FEZs, the Korean government’s AI policy and outlook, and case studies of successful foreign investment, showcasing the zones’ investment strengths and growth potential. The government’s policy priorities include stimulating investment through regulatory reform, fostering advanced technologies and future industries, and building an investment environment aligned with global standards. Accordingly, KFEZs are being developed into clusters for high-tech industries, such as semiconductors, secondary batteries, bio, and clean energy, offering new investment opportunities to global investors. At the event, Deputy Minister of Industries and Enterprises Oh Seung-cheol stated, “Korea is building an open investment environment where global businesses can invest with confidence,” citing the country’s world-class manufacturing competitiveness and strong talent base. He also asked the participants to continue showing interest in KFEZs— key hubs of the Korean economy—and to actively promote them to potential investors. K-FEZ Day 2025 marks the second consecutive year for the event. MOTIE will continue leveraging its network with diplomatic missions and global companies to roll out tailored promotion efforts, positioning KFEZs as Korea’s premier investment hubs and global innovation clusters. date2025-09-05

Korea–UK Trade Ministers Discuss Economic Cooperation and Key Trade Issues

Korea’s Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo met with Douglas Alexander, the UK’s Minister of State at the Department for Business and Trade, in Seoul on September 1, 2025. The two sides exchanged views on industrial and trade policy directions amid the current global trade environment and discussed ways to expand bilateral cooperation. The UK is Korea’s 25th-largest trading partner, with bilateral trade totaling $11.2 billion in 2024. Trade between the two countries remained active under the Korea–UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA), which entered into force in January 2011. The UK is also one of Korea’s major investment partners, ranking third among European countries in cumulative investment in Korea as of 2024. Active investment and technological partnerships between companies in both countries underpin bilateral cooperation. During the meeting, Trade Minister Yeo noted the ongoing industrial and trade cooperation between the two countries, including the Korea-UK FTA upgrade negotiations and supply chain dialogues. He emphasized the importance of sustaining a strong economic partnership based on shared values, such as liberal democracy and the market economy. He also expressed hope that the UK’s industrial and trade strategies announced in June would provide as basis for stronger bilateral ties. Regarding the UK’s introduction of Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), Trade Minister Yeo underscored the need for sufficient lead time and measures to ease compliance burdens on businesses. He also conveyed Korean industry’s concerns and requests regarding the UK’s recently strengthened steel safeguard measures and the Electric Car Grant scheme, and called for the UK government’s cooperation and support. date2025-09-03

Korea’s Exports Rise 1.3% in August

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) announced on September 1 that Korea’s exports in August 2025 grew 1.3 percent year-on-year to USD 58.4 billion, while imports fell 4.0 percent to $51.9 billion. The trade balance recorded a surplus of $6.5 billion. Daily average exports for the month, factoring in the number of working days, also rose 5.8 percent to $2.6 billion. Despite having one fewer working day than a year earlier, August exports maintained an upward trajectory and set a monthly record for the third consecutive month. Of Korea’s 15 major export categories, three posted growth in August. Semiconductor exports surged 27.1 percent to $15.1 billion, setting a new all-time high just two months after the previous record. This growth was driven by rising contract prices and sustained global demand from downstream industries, such as the server market. Automobile exports rose 8.6 percent to $5.5 billion for the third consecutive month, supported by increased exports of used cars and eco-friendly vehicles, including electric and hybrid models. Ship exports grew for the sixth straight month (up 11.8 percent to $3.1 billion), fueled by deliveries of vessels ordered in 2022 and 2023. By region, exports increased in three out of nine major markets. Exports to ASEAN climbed 11.9 percent to $10.9 billion, the highest August figure on record and the third straight month of growth, driven by strong performance in semiconductors and ships. Exports to CIS countries (up 9.2 percent to $1.1 billion) grew for the sixth consecutive month, while those to the Middle East edged up 1.0 percent to $1.4 billion, returning to positive growth after one month. MOTIE Minister Kim Jung-kwan stated, “To minimize tariff impacts on small- and mid-sized companies, the ministry plans to announce and implement supportive measures in early September, focusing on three areas: ①easing burdens through short-term operation assistance and boosting domestic demand, ②diversifying export markets to sustain momentum, and ③strengthening the fundamental competitiveness of core and promising industries.” date2025-09-02