Ministry of Trade Industry and Resources

Good-Price Gas Station Site Visit and Roundtable

Minister JK (Jung-Kwan) Kim of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR) visited Daewon Self-Service Gas Station, a designated Good-Price Gas Station in Guro-gu, Seoul, on May 19, 2026, and held a roundtable with operators of selected stations. Minister Kim recognized their role in stabilizing fuel prices and took note of concerns over the maximum price system for petroleum products. The roundtable was attended by representatives of Daewon Self-Service Gas Station, Tiger Trading World Cup Gas Station, Bukduchilseong Gas Station, Shinhwa Energy O Happy Gas Station and Gwanghwal Nonghyup Gas Station, among others. “Domestic fuel prices have remained stable largely thanks to the efforts of gas stations on the ground,” Minister Kim said, expressing appreciation to Good-Price Gas Stations and other operators and calling for joint efforts to navigate Middle East-related challenges. date2026-05-19

Minister JK Kim Visits Good-Price Gas Stations, Recognizes Efforts to Stabilize Prices

Minister JK (Jung-Kwan) Kim of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR) visited Daewon Self-Service Gas Station, a designated Good-Price Gas Station in Guro-gu, Seoul, on May 19, 2026. He met with operators of selected stations, recognized their role in stabilizing fuel prices as Middle East-driven oil market volatility puts growing pressure on domestic prices, and took note of concerns raised by the operators over the maximum price system for petroleum products. Good-Price Gas Stations are recognized by Energy Consumer (E Consumer), a civic watchdog group that monitors energy and petroleum markets, for their contribution to fuel price stability following the March 13 launch of the maximum price system for petroleum products.  The group designates stations every two weeks, selecting 10 in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province and five per region elsewhere. The 334 stations selected across four rounds sell fuel at about KRW 14 to 15 per liter below the national average, while the 24 stations selected at least twice sell at about KRW 19 to 21 less per liter. To encourage price-stabilization efforts by gas stations, MOTIR is stepping up public outreach and incentives for the Good-Price Gas Station initiative. A dedicated banner has been added to Opinet, the fuel price information service run by the Korea National Oil Corporation (KNOC), and users can now find nearby Good-Price Gas Stations on major navigation platforms, including TMAP, Naver Map and KakaoMap. Two stations have already been selected three times. Stations selected five times will be designated as “Exemplary Good-Price Gas Stations” and receive incentives, including dedicated online and offline marks and government awards. The maximum price system for petroleum products, together with E Consumer’s selection of Good-Price Gas Stations, has helped keep nationwide average pump prices stable, at around KRW 2,011 per liter for gasoline and KRW 2,006 for diesel. According to the Ministry of Finance and Economy (MOFE), the system eased upward pressure on consumer prices by 0.6 percentage point in March and 1.2 percentage points in April. In March, energy prices across the OECD rose 8.1 percent on average, while Korea's rose only 5.2 percent.. Diesel prices, which directly affect truck drivers and other transport workers, rose 26 percent in Korea from pre-conflict levels, lower than the increases of 44 percent in the United States and 37 percent in the United Kingdom. “Domestic fuel prices have remained stable largely thanks to the efforts of gas stations on the ground,” Minister Kim said. “I extend my sincere appreciation to Good-Price Gas Stations and other gas station operators, and hope the government, businesses and the public will work together to navigate the Middle East-related challenges.” He added, “I also hope the conflict in the Middle East ends as soon as possible and markets return to normal.” date2026-05-19

Anchor Firms and Partner Companies Team Up to Build Low-Carbon Industrial Supply Chains

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR, Minister JK Kim) held a meeting at the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) on May 19, 2026, with consortia selected for MOTIR’s 2026 industrial supply chain carbon partnership program. As global carbon regulations increasingly target supply chains, green transformation (GX) has become critical to manufacturing competitiveness. Through the program, MOTIR will work with the lead companies of the eight consortia to help 31 partner SMEs and middle-market companies reduce emissions. Under the program, the government will cover up to 50 to 60 percent of partner companies’ costs for installing carbon-reduction equipment. It will also support consulting on emissions-reduction and product carbon footprint calculations, as well as third-party verification. Lead companies will provide cash support, help cover the required private-sector cost share through tools such as interest-free loans and interest subsidies, cover operating and management costs, and offer consulting and training to strengthen partner capabilities. The selected consortia can be grouped into four models. Hyundai Motor and Kia will use a cascading support structure, in which first-tier partner companies receive cash support and then pass support on to second-tier partner companies. Samsung Electronics, Samsung Display, LG Electronics, HL Mando and SK hynix will use overlapping partner-company networks to spread emissions-reduction results across supply chains. HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering will support partner companies’ operating and management costs and convert their emissions-reduction results into external projects for further use. POSCO will provide personnel and technology to help SME and middle-market customers improve process efficiency. Participating companies aim to cut greenhouse gas emissions by about 20,000 tons per year, encourage voluntary reductions throughout their supply chains, and identify and share best practices in win-win cooperation. The initiative will also help them respond promptly to tightening global carbon rules, including the EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) and Battery Regulation, meet Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) targets, address global customers’ supply-chain emissions requirements, secure product carbon footprint (PCF) data, and strengthen export competitiveness. “Carbon neutrality and industrial competitiveness are complementary goals that will shape the future of industry,” said Lee Min-woo, Director General for Industrial Policy at MOTIR. “Today’s supply-chain cooperation will help these industries maintain global leadership. The government and companies of all sizes should work together to navigate tightening global carbon rules and identify and scale successful green transformation models that support shared growth.” date2026-05-19

Korea Secures ISO Approval to Start Work on Standard for Decommissioning Nuclear Power Plants

The Korean Agency for Technology and Standards (KATS, President Kim Dae-ja) of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR, Minister JK Kim) announced that Korea’s proposal to develop the world’s first international standard for decommissioning nuclear power plants, which was submitted in June 2023, has been approved by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) as a new work item proposal (NP). After nearly three years of discussions by ISO Technical Committee 85 (TC 85, Nuclear energy, nuclear technologies and radiological protection), it received support from nine ISO member countries, including the United States, China and Japan. The approved proposal sets out general requirements for the decommissioning process, from basic terminology to planning, implementation and management, with Korea leading development of the standard as project leader. The draft will enter the member-country comment phase on May 19, 2026, with publication as an International Standard (IS) targeted for December 2027. KATS also plans to develop nine additional international standards in stages, covering specific technologies required for decommissioning. These will include nuclear power plant decommissioning planning, radioactive waste management, facility characterization, safety assessment, decommissioning work management, decontamination and dismantling, radiation protection and monitoring, application of clearance criteria, and site restoration. IAEA experts will also participate in the standardization process to improve alignment with international nuclear safety standards. KATS expects the Korea-led standards to serve as practical reference points for the global nuclear power plant decommissioning industry and help strengthen the competitiveness of Korean companies in overseas markets. “On nuclear power plant construction and operation, Korea has largely followed international standards,” said KATS President Kim Dae-ja. “This proposal marks a meaningful step, as Korea is now in a position to lead international standardization in decommissioning. To support the export competitiveness of K-nuclear power, we will also lead the development of de facto standards through organizations such as the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), alongside our work at ISO.” date2026-05-18

Korea Provides Tailored Guidance on EU CBAM Full Implementation in 2026

The Korean government held its 11th joint briefing of 2026 on the EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) at Trade Tower in Seoul on April 21, 2026, with the participation of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR, Minister JK Kim), the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment (MCEE, Minister Kim Sung-whan), the Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS, Minister Han Seong-sook), and the Korea Customs Service (KCS, Commissioner Lee Myeong-ku). Some 200 executives and employees from SMEs exporting CBAM-covered products attended in person, and many other companies joined online. With the EU CBAM entering full implementation in 2026, Korean exporters have moved beyond emissions reporting to a phase in which they will begin bearing carbon costs directly. As free allocation in the EU is phased out, the number of CBAM certificates required for exports to the EU is also expected to increase. Maintaining export competitiveness will increasingly depend on accurately calculating the embedded emissions of products shipped to the EU and the applicable free-allocation benchmarks for each product category. The briefing was held to share key regulatory changes following the start of the definitive period, based on the EU CBAM implementing rules released in December 2025. The briefing provided a detailed guide tailored to the full implementation, covering an overview of the system, practical compliance measures such as examples of emissions and certificate calculations, and the latest verification trends. The government also operated on-site consulting booths for pre-registered companies and provided tailored advice on company-specific issues. Park Jung-sung, Deputy Minister for Trade at MOTIR, said, “As 2026 marks the year when CBAM begins to function as a real trade barrier, it is essential that Korean companies clearly understand the revised rules that apply under full implementation.” He added, “The government will reinforce its public-private response system by using all available policy tools, including help desk services and consulting support, so that Korean companies are not placed at a disadvantage in the EU market.” The government will continue to swiftly share regulatory updates and response guidance to help minimize the burden on Korean exporters, while consulting with the relevant EU authorities on possible improvements to the system. date2026-04-21

Minister Kim Meets with Qatar’s Minister of State for Energy Affairs

Minister Kim Jung-kwan of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources met with Saad bin Sherida Al-Kaabi, Minister of State for Energy Affairs of Qatar, on Wednesday, November 12, at the Four Seasons Hotel in Jongno-gu, Seoul, to discuss ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation with a focus on energy supply chain collaboration.   Minister Kim noted that the meeting provided a meaningful opportunity to reinforce energy supply chain stability and expand practical cooperation in key sectors such as LNG, plant construction, and shipbuilding. He added that the ministry will continue to strengthen high-level dialogue channels with Qatar and pursue concrete project-based partnerships. date2025-11-14

Trade Minister Yeo Meets with The Korea Society President Thomas J. Byrne

Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources met with Thomas J. Byrne, President and CEO of The Korea Society, on Tuesday, November 4, at the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) in Jung-gu, Seoul. The two discussed ways to strengthen Korea–U.S. cooperation in industry and energy and to improve bilateral visa policies. date2025-11-10

Korea to Strengthen Global Competitiveness in Nanotechnology Standards

The Korean Agency for Technology and Standards (KATS, President Kim Dae-ja) announced that it will host the 2025 ISO/TC 229 (Nanotechnologies) Plenary Meeting from Monday, November 10, to Friday, November 14, 2025, at Songdo ConvensiA in Incheon, in cooperation with the Korea Carbon Industry Promotion Agency and the Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science. ISO/TC 229, a technical committee under the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), develops international standards for nanotechnologies used across cutting-edge industries such as biotechnology, displays, and quantum technology. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the committee’s establishment. The plenary meeting will bring together approximately 100 participants from over 20 countries, including the United Kingdom, Germany, the United States, Japan, and China, as well as Korean industry and academic experts, to discuss global standardization issues related to nanotechnology measurement standards, health and safety, and sustainability. Korea is currently developing ten international standards in areas including nanomaterial particle characterization, nanoproduct applications, and health and safety assessments of nanotechnologies. KATS expects that hosting this plenary meeting will increase the likelihood of the ten Korea-proposed standards being adopted as formal international standards, thereby strengthening the global competitiveness of Korean companies utilizing nanotechnology—including those in the display, future mobility, and biotechnology sectors. President Kim Dae-ja stated that KATS will continue to expand the development of international standards and Korean Industrial Standards (KS) for nanomaterials to enhance Korea’s competitiveness in advanced industries, while also contributing to industrial development in health- and safety-related fields. date2025-11-10

Korea to Lead Development of International Standards for Core Equipment Used in Eco-Friendly Fuel Ships

Korea will take the lead in developing international standards to ensure the safety and efficiency of equipment used in eco-friendly fuel ships powered by ammonia and hydrogen. The Korean Agency for Technology and Standards (KATS, President Kim Dae-ja) under the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR) announced that it will propose two new international standards at the ISO/TC 8/SC 3 Piping and Machinery Subcommittee Meeting being held in Busan from November 3 to 6, 2025. Global shipbuilders are developing vessels powered by eco-friendly fuels such as ammonia and hydrogen in response to greenhouse gas reduction regulations set by the International Maritime Organization (IMO). Building on its strengths in the shipbuilding sector, Korea is leading efforts to standardize core equipment for eco-friendly fuel ships. At this meeting, KATS plans to propose international standards for “Test Procedures for Valves and Heat Exchangers for Ammonia-Fueled Ships.” Once adopted, the proposed international standards for these core components are expected to significantly strengthen Korea’s global competitiveness in the ammonia-fueled ship sector, which remains at an early stage of commercialization. Korean marine equipment manufacturers will continue developing international standards for key components of eco-friendly fuel ships, including piping systems and storage tanks. KATS President Kim Dae-ja stated, “It is highly meaningful for Korea to lead the development of core technology standards for future vessels in line with the global push for carbon neutrality. We will continue to strengthen Korea’s standardization capabilities in eco-friendly alternative fuel ship technology to support the competitiveness of our shipbuilding and marine equipment industries in the global market.” date2025-11-04

Korea Sets World’s First Standard for Photovoltaic-Thermal Hybrid Modules

The Korean Agency for Technology and Standards (KATS, President Kim Dae-ja), under the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR), announced on Friday, October 31, 2025, that it established and promulgated the world’s first Korean Industrial Standard (KS) for photovoltaic-thermal (PVT) hybrid modules, which generate both electricity and heat from solar energy. While separate standards already exist for photovoltaic modules that generate electricity and for solar thermal collectors that produce heat, no standard existed for PVT hybrid modules combining both technologies. This lack of standardization posed challenges for Korean manufacturers seeking to enter new markets. To address this issue, KATS utilized the Certification of Conformity of New Products of Industrial Convergence system in 2023 and has now established the world’s first KS standard to promote the adoption of PVT hybrid modules. As PVT hybrid modules are well-suited for buildings requiring both electricity and heat, the newly established KS standard is expected to support the government’s policy goal of achieving a renewable energy–centered energy transition and advancing toward zero-energy building certification for energy self-sufficiency. KATS President Kim Dae-ja stated, “The world’s first standardization of PVT hybrid modules demonstrates the government’s commitment to supporting the market adoption of new convergence technologies developed by Korean companies. Moving forward, we will also pursue international standardization to help Korean companies expand into global markets.” date2025-10-31