Ministry of Trade Industry and Resources

Minister Kim Visits Advanced Robotics Cooperation Site

Minister JK (Jung-Kwan) Kim of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR) visited the Czech Technical University in Prague (CTU) in Prague, Czech Republic, on June 18, 2026, with Jan Sechter, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic; Roh Gun-ki, President of the Korea Electronics Technology Institute; Cho Young-hoon, President of the Korea Institute for Robot Industry Advancement; and officials from both countries. During the visit, Minister Kim inspected the planned site for the Advanced Robotics Center and its robotics testbed, was briefed on robotics industry cooperation between Korean and Czech institutions, and toured a robotics R&D lab and technology demonstration site. Minister Kim said the center is expected to serve as a key hub for joint R&D, technology demonstrations, and personnel exchanges, and that Korea and the Czech Republic will use it to strengthen their strategic partnership in future industries. date2026-06-19

Korea–Czech Nuclear Business Partnership Event

Minister JK (Jung-Kwan) Kim of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR) attended the Korea–Czech Nuclear Business Partnership Event in Prague, Czech Republic, on June 18, 2026, with Karel Havlíček, Minister of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic, and government and nuclear business representatives from both countries. The event was held to discuss concrete ways to expand cooperation between companies from the two countries. During the event, Minister Kim witnessed the signing of a contract between KEPCO Engineering and Construction (KEPCO E&C) and ENERGOPROJEKT PRAHA (EGP) for design and licensing technical support. Minister Kim said the Dukovany project will serve as a foundation for more than a century of Korea–Czech cooperation, and that the two countries will build on its successful implementation to expand cooperation beyond nuclear power. date2026-06-19

Third Korea–Czech Supply Chain and Energy Dialogue

Minister JK (Jung-Kwan) Kim of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR) attended the third Korea–Czech Supply Chain and Energy Dialogue in Prague, Czech Republic, on June 18, 2026, with Karel Havlíček, Minister of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic, and government delegations from both countries. At the meeting, the two sides reviewed the status of cooperation in high-tech industries and discussed ways to expand future cooperation. Minister Kim said Korea and the Czech Republic will build on the successful implementation of the Dukovany project to expand cooperation beyond nuclear power to high-tech industries, supply chains, and other areas. date2026-06-19

Second Meeting of the Dukovany Steering Committee Held

Minister JK (Jung-Kwan) Kim of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR) attended the second meeting of the Dukovany Steering Committee in Prague, Czech Republic, on June 18, 2026, with Karel Havlíček, Minister of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic; Kim Hoe-cheon, President of Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power; and government delegations from both countries. At the meeting, participants reviewed implementation progress and next steps for the Dukovany new nuclear power plant project, along with progress and plans for localization. Minister Kim said the Dukovany project will serve as a foundation for more than a century of Korea–Czech cooperation, from construction through operation, and that the two countries will build on its successful implementation to expand cooperation across nuclear power, high-tech industries, supply chains, and other areas. date2026-06-19

Korea, Czech Republic Build on Nuclear Power Cooperation to Expand High-Tech Industry Cooperation

Minister JK (Jung-Kwan) Kim of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR) visited the Czech Republic from June 17 to 18, 2026. He met with Karel Havlíček, Minister of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic, to review cooperation on the Dukovany new nuclear power plant project and discuss expanding cooperation in high-tech industries. Second Meeting of the Dukovany Steering Committee The two ministers held the second meeting of the Dukovany Steering Committee, launched in February 2026, to review the project’s implementation progress and next steps. They confirmed that Team Korea is meeting agreed milestones, including licensing document submissions, and reviewed key risks, such as staffing for licensing documentation and heavy cargo transport plans. They also discussed ways to expand Czech companies’ participation in the project and strengthen cooperation between companies from both countries. The two sides agreed to help address implementation issues and cooperate to keep the Dukovany project on track. Third Korea–Czech Supply Chain and Energy Dialogue At the third Supply Chain and Energy Dialogue that followed, the two ministers reviewed the status of cooperation in high-tech industries and discussed ways to expand future cooperation. The two sides assessed that trust built through nuclear power cooperation is broadening bilateral cooperation into high-tech industries, and agreed to press ahead with follow-up measures under the Vltava High-Tech Industry Cooperation Vision adopted in 2024. They assessed the outcomes of bilateral and multilateral joint R&D cooperation and reviewed progress on cooperation centers and joint R&D plans in robotics, batteries, and future mobility. They also reviewed follow-up responses to key concerns raised at the March 2026 business roundtable held at Minister Havlíček’s invitation and discussed Korean companies’ plans to expand investment in the Czech Republic. Korea–Czech Nuclear Business Partnership Event The two countries also held the Korea–Czech Nuclear Business Partnership Event, marking the first anniversary of the Dukovany new nuclear power plant project contract. Minister Kim, Minister Havlíček, and other key participants welcomed the steady progress made over the past year and reaffirmed their commitment to the project’s continued implementation. During the event, KEPCO Engineering and Construction (KEPCO E&C) and ENERGOPROJEKT PRAHA (EGP) signed a contract for design and licensing technical support. Minister Kim Visits Advanced Robotics Cooperation Site Minister Kim visited the Czech Technical University in Prague (CTU), where he inspected the planned site for the Advanced Robotics Center and its robotics testbed, and was briefed on robotics industry cooperation between institutions of the two countries. He said the center is expected to serve as a key hub for joint R&D, technology demonstrations, and personnel exchanges. He also noted that the robotics center is the first to advance among the robotics, battery, and future mobility cooperation centers agreed in 2025, making it a flagship project in bilateral high-tech industry cooperation. Minister Kim said, “With the Czech government pursuing a policy to extend the operating life of nuclear power plants to up to 80 years, the Dukovany new nuclear power plant project will serve as a foundation for cooperation that will continue for more than a century, from construction through operation. Building on the successful implementation of the Dukovany project, Korea and the Czech Republic will expand cooperation beyond nuclear power to high-tech industries, supply chains, and other areas.” He added, “Starting with the Advanced Robotics Center, we will move forward as planned with cooperation centers for batteries and future mobility, further strengthening our strategic partn date2026-06-19

Meeting with President of the Mongolian National Chamber of Commerce and Industry

Minister for Trade Yeo Han-koo of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR, Minister JK Kim) met with Baatarjav Lkhagvajav, President of the Mongolian National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MNCCI), in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, on June 18, 2026. The meeting was held during Minister Yeo’s visit to Mongolia to discuss ways to expand economic cooperation and advance negotiations on the Korea–Mongolia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). Minister Yeo said the Korea–Mongolia CEPA will provide a key institutional foundation for expanding bilateral trade and investment and building a stable supply chain partnership. date2026-06-19

Roundtable with Korean Companies in Mongolia

Minister for Trade Yeo Han-koo of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR, Minister JK Kim) chaired a roundtable with representatives of Korean companies operating in Mongolia, including E-mart, GS Retail, and Osstem, in Ulaanbaatar on June 17, 2026. Minister Yeo delivered remarks and received detailed input on specific business concerns, including customs clearance delays and strict CEPA rules-of-origin certification requirements. Minister Yeo said the Korea–Mongolia CEPA will provide a key institutional foundation for expanding bilateral trade and investment and building a stable supply chain partnership. date2026-06-18

Meeting with Mongolia’s Minister of Economy and Development

Minister for Trade Yeo Han-koo of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR, Minister JK Kim) met with Jadambyn Enkhbayar, Mongolia’s First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Development, in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, on June 17, 2026. They discussed ways to expand economic cooperation with resource-rich Mongolia and advance negotiations on the Korea–Mongolia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). Minister Yeo said the Korea–Mongolia CEPA will provide a key institutional foundation for expanding bilateral trade and investment and building a stable supply chain partnership. date2026-06-18

Korea, Mongolia Discuss Ways to Advance CEPA Talks and Accelerate Strategic Economic Cooperation

Minister for Trade Yeo Han-koo of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR, Minister JK Kim) and Jadambyn Enkhbayar, Mongolia’s First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Development, held a Korea–Mongolia trade ministers’ meeting in Mongolia on June 17, 2026. The two sides discussed expanding economic cooperation with resource-rich Mongolia and advancing negotiations on the Korea–Mongolia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). Mongolia is one of the world’s major resource-rich countries, with abundant minerals essential to advanced industries, including copper, molybdenum, and rare earth elements, and is an important emerging trade partner for Korea’s critical mineral supply chain stabilization strategy. Since upgrading their bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership in 2021, Korea and Mongolia have strengthened cooperation across politics, the economy, culture, and other areas. However, they have had no separate trade agreement to provide an institutional basis for expanding bilateral trade and investment, and have been pursuing the Korea–Mongolia CEPA since November 2023. During the meeting, Minister Yeo stressed the importance of concluding the Korea–Mongolia CEPA at an early date, noting that the agreement is key to accelerating bilateral economic cooperation and strengthening supply chain links. In the working groups on goods and rules of origin, the key areas of the CEPA negotiations, the two sides worked to align their positions toward a mutually beneficial outcome. Minister Yeo also held a roundtable with Korean companies operating in Mongolia and heard specific business concerns on the ground, including customs clearance delays and strict CEPA rules-of-origin certification requirements. At the trade ministers’ meeting, he asked the Mongolian government to give close attention to these issues and help address them. “The Korea–Mongolia CEPA will provide a key institutional foundation for expanding bilateral trade and investment and building a stable supply chain partnership,” Minister Yeo said. “We will accelerate the negotiations to reach a mutually beneficial outcome.” date2026-06-17

Korea, UAE Build on Special Strategic Partnership to Deepen Cooperation on Crude Oil Supplies, Nuclear Power, and Plant Projects

Minister JK (Jung-Kwan) Kim of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR) visited the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on June 16, concluding a three-country Middle East tour to bolster energy security and economic cooperation. As Korea’s third-largest crude oil supplier, the UAE is the only Middle Eastern nation to hold a Special Strategic Partnership with Korea. During a March visit by the Special Envoy for Strategic and Economic Cooperation, UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan pledged to prioritize crude oil supplies to Korea amid the global energy crisis. Minister Kim's visit aimed to review the implementation of that March agreement and discuss strategic initiatives, including joint oil stockpiling, nuclear energy, and industrial plant projects. Minister Kim met with senior officials, including Musabbeh Al Kaabi, CEO of the Upstream Division at the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC)—a central player in global energy supply chains, where he received confirmation that the 24 million barrels of emergency crude oil pledged by the UAE in March were arriving smoothly on schedule. Minister Kim, throughout his tour, also engaged with high-level UAE officials to discuss long-term resource security cooperation. As a result, both sides agreed to continue talks on joint crude oil stockpiling, a key priority for the UAE. Furthermore, the two sides consulted extensively on cooperation regarding the UAE’s large-scale infrastructure projects—such as pipeline expansions and underground oil storage facilities—designed to establish a supply chain bypassing the Strait of Hormuz. Minister Kim requested the UAE’s active support to aid Korean companies, which possess high-level design, construction, and operational capabilities, secure participation in major plant projects aimed at stabilizing core energy supply chains. Subsequently, Minister Kim met with high-ranking officials from key UAE nuclear energy agencies, including Sharif Salim Al Olama, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure. To deepen full-cycle cooperation at the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant, both sides reviewed corporate progress and discussed concrete plans regarding △securing stable nuclear fuel supplies, △strengthening plant maintenance, and △expanding artificial intelligence (AI) and digital transformation (DT) in plant operations. Building on the Barakah model, they also held in-depth discussions on jointly entering strategic global nuclear power markets, focusing on △selecting candidate markets, △establishing cooperation frameworks, △defining corporate roles, and △financial and investment cooperation. In addition, following the May 17 drone attack on power transmission facilities near the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant, Korea and the UAE agreed to strengthen information sharing and technical cooperation on nuclear plant protection systems. This serves as a follow-up to a May 21 Ministerial virtual, where both Ministers reviewed repair progress and discussed safety measures for Korean employees working in the region. Minister Kim stated, “The UAE is a vital partner that has steadfastly anchored Korea’s energy supply chains despite Middle Eastern uncertainties. This visit confirmed that our oil cooperation has evolved beyond simple trade into a strategic partnership that functions effectively in any crisis.” He emphasized, “Based on this deep mutual trust, we will advance our strategic partnership by deepening full-lifecycle nuclear cooperation—including operations, maintenance, security, and joint exports to third countries—while expanding opportunities for Korean companies in key plant infrastructure sectors. date2026-06-17