Ministry of Trade Industry and Resources

OECD MCM Session 1: Balancing the Goals and Impacts of Industrial Policy

Minister for Trade Yeo Han-koo of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR) attended Session 1 of the 2026 OECD Ministerial Council Meeting (MCM), titled “Balancing the Goals and Impacts of Industrial Policy,” in Paris, France, on June 3, 2026. The session brought together trade ministers from OECD member countries, accession candidates, and key partners, including Finland and New Zealand. Minister Yeo shared Korea’s policy experience in Manufacturing AI Transformation (M.AX), AI factories, physical AI, the energy transition, and the Five Mega-Regions and Three Special Self-Governing Provinces initiative. Minister Yeo stressed that industrial policy should not replace markets but help spread new technologies and raise productivity. He also called for avoiding subsidy races, beggar-thy-neighbor policies, and zero-sum competition, and asked the OECD to serve as a platform for dialogue and peer learning based on empirical analysis. date2026-06-05

Informal WTO Trade Ministers’ Meeting

Minister for Trade Yeo Han-koo of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR) attended an informal WTO trade ministers’ meeting, held as a side event of the 2026 OECD Ministerial Council Meeting in Paris, France, on June 3, 2026. The meeting brought together trade ministers from WTO members, including the United States, the EU, Japan, and China, to discuss ways to reform WTO decision-making. Minister Yeo said the WTO’s difficulty in reaching meaningful decisions should be turned into momentum for reform, and stressed the need to restore its rulemaking function in a changing trade environment shaped by digitalization and AI. date2026-06-05

OECD Report Publication Ceremony

Minister for Trade Yeo Han-koo of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR) attended an event marking the publication of a report on Korea’s contributions, held on the margins of the 2026 OECD Ministerial Council Meeting in Paris, France, on June 3, 2026. The event was attended by Mathias Cormann, Secretary-General of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), and other OECD officials. In his congratulatory remarks, Minister Yeo introduced Korea’s digital trade infrastructure, including electronic customs clearance and AI-based risk management, and said Korea will contribute to OECD discussions on strengthening digital trade systems and interoperability. date2026-06-05

Opening Ceremony of the OECD Ministerial Council Meeting

Minister for Trade Yeo Han-koo of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR) attended the Opening Ceremony of the 2026 OECD Ministerial Council Meeting (MCM) in Paris, France, on June 3, 2026. The ceremony brought together trade ministers from OECD member countries, accession candidates, and key partners, including Finland, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom. Korea participated in the 2026 MCM as a vice-chair country, with Minister Yeo serving as Korea’s chief delegate. date2026-06-05

Meeting with Poland’s Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of Economic Development and Technology

Minister for Trade Yeo Han-koo of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR) met with Michał Baranowski, Poland’s Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of Economic Development and Technology, on the margins of the 2026 OECD Ministerial Council Meeting in Paris, France, on June 3, 2026. The two sides discussed ways to strengthen bilateral economic, trade, and industrial cooperation. date2026-06-05

Meeting with Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Economy and Planning

Minister for Trade Yeo Han-koo of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR) met with Faisal bin Fadhil Alibrahim, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Economy and Planning, on the margins of the 2026 OECD Ministerial Council Meeting in Paris, France, on June 3, 2026. The two sides discussed ways to strengthen bilateral economic, trade, and industrial cooperation. date2026-06-05

Meeting with the President of the Swiss Confederation

Minister for Trade Yeo Han-koo of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR) met with Guy Parmelin, President of the Swiss Confederation and Head of the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research, on the margins of the 2026 OECD Ministerial Council Meeting in Paris, France, on June 3, 2026. The two sides discussed ways to strengthen bilateral economic, trade, and industrial cooperation. date2026-06-05

Meeting with the U.K. Minister for Trade

Minister for Trade Yeo Han-koo of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR) met with Sir Chris Bryant, the United Kingdom’s Minister of State (Minister for Trade) at the Department for Business and Trade, on the margins of the 2026 OECD Ministerial Council Meeting in Paris, France, on June 3, 2026. The two sides reviewed progress in Korea-U.K. FTA upgrade negotiations and discussed trade issues, including the United Kingdom’s moves to expand steel-related import restrictions, such as higher tariffs and anti-dumping investigations. Minister Yeo conveyed Korea’s concerns over these measures and asked for continued attention to ensuring fair and stable conditions for Korean companies. date2026-06-05

Meeting with the U.S. Trade Representative

Minister for Trade Yeo Han-koo of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR) met with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer on the margins of the 2026 OECD Ministerial Council Meeting in Paris, France, on June 3, 2026. The two sides discussed a broad range of bilateral trade issues, including the results of Section 301 investigations under the Trade Act of 1974. Minister Yeo also reviewed progress in implementing commitments in the Korea-U.S. leaders’ Joint Fact Sheet. date2026-06-05

Meeting with Finland’s Minister for Foreign Trade and Development

Minister for Trade Yeo Han-koo of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR) met with Ville Tavio, Finland’s Minister for Foreign Trade and Development, on the margins of the 2026 OECD Ministerial Council Meeting in Paris, France, on June 3, 2026. The two sides discussed opportunities for bilateral cooperation in advanced industries, including critical mineral supply chain stability and quantum computing. date2026-06-05