Ministry of Trade Industry and Resources

Minister Kim Meets Kyrgyz Economy and Commerce Minister to Discuss Broader Economic Cooperation

Minister JK (Jung-Kwan) Kim of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR) met with Kyrgyz Minister of Economy and Commerce Bakyt Sydykov in Seoul on May 21, 2026, to discuss ways to expand bilateral economic cooperation in trade and investment, critical minerals and development cooperation. Both sides welcomed the recent growth in bilateral trade, which reached USD 3.5 billion in 2025, the highest level since diplomatic ties were established in 1992. They also agreed on the need to trade in a wider range of goods and expand mutually beneficial trade. On critical minerals, both sides noted that the Kyrgyz Republic has abundant resources, including antimony and tungsten, and recognized the need to work together in this area. They agreed to identify priority projects for medium- to long-term cooperation and continue discussions. On development cooperation, both sides reviewed the results of ODA projects carried out jointly by MOTIR and the Kyrgyz Republic. MOTIR provided KRW 1.3 billion over three years from 2021 for technical assistance in Kyrgyzstan’s textile sector and will provide KRW 2.1 billion over five years from 2026 for technical assistance on digital transformation (DX). Both sides agreed that ODA has helped strengthen Kyrgyzstan’s industrial capacity and build a foundation for digital transformation. “Kyrgyzstan is an important partner for Korea in trade and investment, critical minerals and development cooperation,” Minister Kim said. “I hope the Korea–Central Asia Summit in Seoul in September 2026 will help accelerate economic cooperation between our two countries.” date2026-05-22

Minister Kim and UAE Energy Minister Review Barakah Plant and Korean Personnel Safety

Minister JK (Jung-Kwan) Kim of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR) held a virtual meeting with UAE Minister of Energy and Infrastructure Suhail Mohamed Faraj Al Mazrouei on May 21, 2026. The ministers reviewed repairs to transmission facilities near the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant that were damaged in the May 17 drone attack and discussed measures to strengthen the safety of Korean personnel working in the UAE. Minister Kim thanked the UAE government for sparing no effort to support the safety of Korean personnel and their families in the UAE. He said the Korean government would also provide all possible support to help ensure repairs to the damaged facilities proceed without disruption. Minister Al Mazrouei said the UAE gives top priority to the safety of personnel working at the Barakah plant and will continue close communication and cooperation with Korea. Minister Kim also expressed appreciation for the UAE government’s cooperation in stabilizing Korea’s crude oil supplies following Presidential Chief of Staff Kang Hoon-sik’s March 2026 visit to the UAE as a special envoy. Under the Korea–UAE Special Strategic Partnership, MOTIR will maintain close communication with the UAE government and continue to deepen energy and industrial cooperation, including on nuclear power and crude oil supply stability. date2026-05-22

Minister Kim Meets Kyrgyz Minister of Economy and Commerce

Minister JK (Jung-Kwan) Kim of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR) met with Kyrgyz Minister of Economy and Commerce Bakyt Sydykov in Seoul on May 21, 2026, to discuss ways to expand economic cooperation in trade and investment, critical minerals, and development cooperation. Minister Kim said Kyrgyzstan is an important partner for Korea in trade and investment, critical minerals, and development cooperation, and that the Korea–Central Asia Summit in Seoul in September 2026 will help further accelerate economic cooperation between the two countries. date2026-05-22

Virtual Meeting with UAE Minister of Energy and Infrastructure

Minister JK (Jung-Kwan) Kim of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR) held a virtual meeting with Suhail Mohamed Faraj Al Mazrouei, UAE Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, in Seoul on May 21, 2026. The two ministers reviewed repairs to transmission facilities near the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant that sustained damage in the May 17 drone attack. They also discussed measures to strengthen the safety of Korean personnel working in the UAE. “The UAE government is doing everything possible to protect Korean personnel and their families in the UAE, and the Korean government will provide all possible support to help ensure repairs to the damaged facilities proceed without disruption,” Minister Kim said. date2026-05-22

Korea and the EU Hold Dialogue on Supply Chains and Industrial Policy

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR, Minister JK Kim) held the second Korea–EU dialogue on supply chains and industrial policy with the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs (DG GROW) in Seoul on May 21, 2026. The meeting was co-chaired by Vice Minister Moon Shin-hak of MOTIR and Kerstin Jorna, Director-General of DG GROW. The dialogue was launched after Korea and the EU agreed at their summit in May 2023 to expand the existing industrial policy dialogue to cover supply chain cooperation. The first meeting was held in December 2023, and the second meeting reviewed progress in supply chain and industrial policy cooperation and discussed practical ways to advance future cooperation. The two sides first shared their policies to stabilize supply chains, as global disruptions have become a persistent risk amid escalating geopolitical tensions and threats such as the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Korea introduced its supply chain legislation, enacted to build a government-wide support framework, and its early warning system, which quickly detects signs of supply-demand risks in key items such as materials, parts and equipment. The two sides also exchanged views on the EU’s progress and plans for its supply chain monitoring system. The two sides also discussed industrial policy trends and major legislative and policy priorities. Korea emphasized that key EU initiatives, including the Industrial Accelerator Act, should be designed and implemented to strengthen Korea–EU supply chain links. Korea also asked the EU to give careful consideration to concerns raised by Korean companies. The two sides also discussed cooperation on supply chains in strategic industries, including critical minerals and batteries. On critical minerals, they explored ways to share information, analyze risks and collaborate on investments and projects to help build stable and sustainable supply chains. On batteries, Korea explained that Korean battery companies are helping build the EU’s battery production base and strengthen its supply chains through large-scale investments in the EU. Korea also asked for Korean companies to play a larger role in battery energy storage system (BESS) projects in the EU. The two sides also discussed ways to expand investment cooperation between Korean and European companies. They agreed that combining European companies’ core technologies with Korea’s advanced manufacturing capabilities could help strengthen supply chain stability and industrial competitiveness. They also agreed to expand cooperation and investment in advanced industries. They further discussed using cooperation platforms such as the EU Business Hub to identify new partnerships in strategic sectors, including green industries, digital industries and healthcare, and to turn B2B cooperation into tangible industrial outcomes. “Korea and the EU are strategic partners that share the universal values of freedom, human rights and the rule of law. They are also economic partners with strong potential to complement each other in advanced industries and supply chains,” Vice Minister Moon said. “We hope this second dialogue will lead to practical outcomes and serve as a key channel for strengthening Korea–EU supply chain stability and industrial cooperation.” MOTIR will continue to expand supply chain cooperation with the EU in strategic industries, including critical minerals and batteries, and strengthen bilateral cooperation on economic security and industrial policy. date2026-05-21

Korea and Jiangsu Province Hold Seventh Economic and Trade Cooperation Exchange

Minister for Trade Yeo Han-koo of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR, Minister JK Kim) attended the seventh Korea–Jiangsu Province Economic and Trade Cooperation Exchange in Yancheng, Jiangsu Province, China, on May 20, 2026. The event was held under the theme of expanding future-oriented Korea–China cooperation. The event brought together approximately 400 government officials and business representatives from Korea and China, including Xia Xinmin, including Xia Xinmin, Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Jiangsu Provincial People’s Congress. “We will help translate the momentum generated by the reciprocal state visits between the leaders of Korea and China into concrete results,” Minister Yeo said, noting that Korea will continue region-specific dialogue with Chinese local governments. date2026-05-21

Minister Yeo Visits China–ROK Industrial Park Exhibition Hall in Yancheng

Minister for Trade Yeo Han-koo of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR, Minister JK Kim) visited the exhibition hall at the Korea–China industrial park in Yancheng, Jiangsu Province, China, on May 19, 2026, on the occasion of the seventh Korea–Jiangsu Province Economic and Trade Cooperation Exchange. The visit took place as Korea and Jiangsu Province discussed industrial park cooperation and ways to strengthen supply chain cooperation. date2026-05-21

Minister Yeo Meets with Jiangsu Vice Governor Zhao Yan

Minister for Trade Yeo Han-koo of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR, Minister JK Kim) met with Zhao Yan, Vice Governor of Jiangsu Province, in Yancheng, Jiangsu Province, China, on May 19, 2026, on the occasion of the seventh Korea–Jiangsu Economic and Trade Cooperation Exchange Conference. The two sides discussed cooperation between Korea–China industrial parks and ways to strengthen supply chain cooperation, as Jiangsu Province continues to serve as a key base for Korean companies operating in China. “We will help translate the momentum generated by the reciprocal state visits between the leaders of Korea and China into concrete results,” Minister Yeo said, adding that Korea will continue region-specific dialogue with Chinese local governments. date2026-05-21

Korea and Jiangsu Province Step Up Cooperation to Deliver Tangible Results

Minister for Trade Yeo Han-koo of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR, Minister JK Kim) attended the seventh Korea–China (Jiangsu) Economic and Trade Cooperation Exchange in Yancheng, Jiangsu Province, China, on May 20, 2026, an event co-hosted by MOTIR and the Jiangsu Provincial Government. On the sidelines, Minister Yeo met with senior provincial officials, including Zhao Yan, Vice Governor of Jiangsu Province. Held under the theme of expanding future-oriented Korea–China cooperation, the conference brought together approximately 400 government officials and business representatives from both sides to discuss trade, investment and supply chain cooperation. Jiangsu Province is China’s second-largest provincial-level economy by gross regional domestic product (GRDP) and Korea’s largest trade and investment partner among Chinese regions. In 2025, Korea–Jiangsu trade reached approximately USD 86.3 billion, a level that would make Jiangsu Korea’s fourth-largest trading partner if counted as a country, following Vietnam at $94.5 billion. The province is also an important base for stable Korea–China supply chains, with more than 3,000 Korean companies operating there in sectors including automobiles, batteries and semiconductors. They include Samsung Electronics in Suzhou, SK hynix in Wuxi, Kia in Yancheng and LG Energy Solution in Nanjing. For the first time, the 2026 conference introduced one-on-one business matching sessions to help Korean companies generate practical export results. Organized by the Korea International Trade Association (KITA), the sessions connected 35 promising Korean consumer goods companies with major Chinese retail platforms, including JD.com, and local buyers. The event also featured a product showcase pavilion, which drew interest from visitors. More than 300 consultations were held, and Korean companies including Kwangcheonkim Co., Ltd. in food products and HS Hyosung Advanced Materials in anode materials signed 11 agreements with Chinese partners, with export agreements worth a combined $2.3 million. The business matching program also utilized the Gmarket–Alibaba MOU, signed on the occasion of the Korea–China summit on January 5, 2026, to support participating companies’ cross-border e-commerce exports. The Korea Trade Insurance Corporation (K-SURE) and the Korea Testing & Research Institute (KTR) operated advisory desks, providing guidance on certification, insurance and other business challenges faced by Korean companies. In his opening remarks, Trade Minister Yeo said, “We will help translate the momentum generated by reciprocal state visits between the leaders of Korea and China into tangible results.” He added, “China’s provincial governments have economies comparable in scale to individual countries, and each has a distinct industrial ecosystem. This makes region-specific cooperation necessary, and we will continue to communicate through exchanges such as this event.” Trade Minister Yeo also met with representatives from Alibaba, China’s largest e-commerce platform, to discuss ways to expand Korean consumer goods’ access to the Chinese market, including through cross-border e-commerce and livestream commerce. He also held a roundtable with Korean-invested companies to hear their concerns and discuss support measures. date2026-05-20

Meeting with the ASEAN Committee in Seoul

Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR, Minister JK Kim) attended a meeting with the ASEAN Committee in Seoul (ACS) at the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) in Seoul on May 18, 2026. The meeting was attended by ambassadors to Korea from ASEAN’s 11 member states, including Thailand, Cambodia, Indonesia and Laos. Participants exchanged views on practical cooperation in areas such as trade expansion, the Korea–ASEAN Free Trade Agreement (FTA) upgrade and supply chain cooperation. “ASEAN is one of Korea’s key economic and trade partners, and Korea will work to deliver substantive outcomes by 2027 through the Korea–ASEAN FTA upgrade, including new digital provisions, and stronger supply chain cooperation,” Trade Minister Yeo said. date2026-05-18