Ministry of Trade Industry and Resources

MOTIR Discusses Accelerating Economic Cooperation with Oman in Resources, Plant Projects, and Logistics

Minister JK (Jung-Kwan) Kim of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR) held a video meeting with H.E. Qais bin Mohammed Al Yousef, Chairman of Oman’s Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones (OPAZ), on June 1, 2026. The two sides discussed key economic issues, including stable resource supplies, plant project opportunities for Korean companies, and facilitating logistics flows. Amid continued uncertainty in the Middle East, the Korean government has taken broad measures to secure stable resources and mitigate potential impacts on supply chains and exports, helping establish a stable supply base for crude oil and naphtha. The meeting built on this progress and sought to accelerate cooperation with Oman, which is located outside the Strait of Hormuz and has potential as both an alternative logistics hub and resource supplier. Minister Kim recognized Oman as a key energy and resource partner for Korea and noted its contribution to stable crude oil and naphtha supplies. He thanked the Omani government for its cooperation following the April 2026 visit by Korea’s Special Envoy for Strategic Economic Cooperation and asked for continued support to ensure that the crude oil and naphtha supplies discussed during the visit proceed without disruption. Minister Kim noted that Korean companies have successfully carried out major plant projects in Oman, including the Duqm Refinery and Manah Solar Power Plant. He asked for Oman’s interest and support in facilitating Korean companies’ participation in new projects in the country, drawing on their proven technology and project experience. The meeting also covered ways to utilize Oman’s major ports as alternative logistics hubs that bypass the Strait of Hormuz. Minister Kim explained that Korean companies shipping cargo to Saudi Arabia through the Port of Duqm face procedural difficulties, including customs payment and refund procedures in Oman and duplicate inspection and quarantine checks at the Saudi border. He asked Oman to help streamline procedures so that cargo transiting through Oman can move quickly to Saudi Arabia and other final destinations. The two sides noted that the Korea–Oman Economic Cooperation Committee, which has served as a forum for discussions on trade, investment, resources, technology, and other key economic issues, has not met since its fifth meeting in 2016. They agreed to continue consultations on the timing and agenda so that the committee can resume at an early date and help expand bilateral cooperation. “Oman is an important partner in the Middle East, given its location outside the Strait of Hormuz and its abundant energy resources,” Minister Kim said. “Korea will build on this meeting and the resumption of the Economic Cooperation Committee to give new momentum to bilateral cooperation and identify practical ways to work together in resource security, plant projects, and logistics.” date2026-06-01

May 2026 Exports Reach Monthly Record of $87.8 Billion

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR, Minister JK Kim) announced that in May 2026, Korea’s exports rose 53.2 percent year-on-year to USD 87.8 billion, while imports increased 20.8 percent to $60.8 billion, resulting in a $27.0 billion trade surplus. Exports in May reached a monthly record and topped $80.0 billion for the third consecutive month. Semiconductor exports rose 169.4 percent, while exports excluding semiconductors increased 16.0 percent. Average daily exports, adjusted for working days, rose 60.7 percent to $4.3 billion, exceeding $4.0 billion for the first time. By product, exports increased in 12 of Korea’s 20 key export items. Semiconductor exports reached $37.2 billion, up 169.4 percent, setting a new monthly record and topping $30.0 billion for the third consecutive month. DRAM exports rose to $18.6 billion, up 369.8 percent, and NAND exports to $1.7 billion, up 206.8 percent. Other IT items also increased, with computers rising to $4.2 billion, up 290.7 percent; wireless communication devices to $1.5 billion, up 12.6 percent; and displays to $1.5 billion, up 9.4 percent. Automobile exports fell to $5.8 billion, down 5.9 percent, while ship exports rose to $2.6 billion, up 16.7 percent. Petroleum product exports increased to $5.3 billion, up 46.6 percent, although export volumes fell 23.8 percent. Petrochemical exports rose to $3.7 billion, up 11.1 percent, while export volumes declined 25.5 percent. Steel exports edged down to $2.0 billion, down 2.1 percent; nonferrous metals rose to $1.7 billion, up 41.5 percent; and general machinery fell to $3.8 billion, down 6.3 percent. Among consumer goods, biohealth exports rose to $1.4 billion, up 5.2 percent; cosmetics increased to $1.2 billion, up 24.2 percent, setting a new May record; and agricultural and fisheries products rose to $1.1 billion, up 4.7 percent. By destination, exports increased in seven of Korea’s nine major markets. Exports to China rose to $18.9 billion, up 80.9 percent, extending their growth streak to seven consecutive months. Exports to the United States increased to $16.0 billion, up 59.1 percent, while exports to ASEAN rose to $15.9 billion, up 58.4 percent, setting a new monthly record. Exports to the EU increased to $6.2 billion, up 2.4 percent, extending their growth streak to six consecutive months. Exports to the Middle East fell to $1.3 billion, down 7.7 percent. Imports rose 20.8 percent year-on-year to $60.8 billion. Energy imports increased to $11.8 billion, up 15.9 percent, while non-energy imports rose to $49.1 billion, up 22.0 percent. Crude oil imports increased to $8.5 billion, up 25.0 percent, with import volumes rising month-on-month from 62.6 million barrels in April to 69.8 million barrels in May. Among non-energy imports, petroleum products rose to $2.6 billion, up 71.0 percent, and semiconductor equipment to $2.6 billion, also up 71.0 percent. The trade surplus in May reached $27.0 billion, up $20.0 billion from May 2025. Korea’s cumulative trade surplus from January to May reached $101.9 billion, surpassing the previous annual trade surplus record. Minister JK (Jung-Kwan) Kim stated, “With exports increasing again in May, Korea has maintained export growth for 12 consecutive months since the current administration took office. The cumulative trade surplus for January to May has also surpassed Korea’s previous annual trade surplus record.” He added, “This reflects exports growing at a faster pace despite higher imports caused by rising oil prices from the conflict in the Middle East. IT items led by semiconductors, as well as consumer goods such as cosmetics and agricultural and fisheries products, continued to perform well.” Minister Kim also noted that uncertainty remains over the conflict in the Middle East, U.S. tariffs, and the EU’s steel tariff-rate quotas (TRQs). He said the government will continue date2026-06-01

Korea to Reform U-Turn Policy to Promote Regional Investment

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR, Minister JK Kim) announced measures to redefine and promote Korea’s U-turn policy at the Ministerial Meeting on Economic Affairs on May 29, 2026. In response to rising global protectionism and supply chain realignments, the measures form part of a key national policy task to move beyond the simple relocation of overseas operations, promote regional investment, and secure domestic production and innovation capacity in advanced strategic sectors. The government will focus on four priorities: redefining eligibility for U-turn companies, reforming the U-turn subsidy system, strengthening screening and management while rationalizing implementation requirements, and providing targeted support to attract companies and facilitate investment execution. 1. Redefining Eligibility for U-Turn Companies Korea’s initial U-turn policy focused on helping Korean companies with overseas operations return home when business conditions deteriorated, leaving eligibility narrowly defined. Reflecting a broader shift in major economies such as the United States and Japan, which are expanding reshoring support to secure production capacity in advanced strategic sectors, the government plans to revise relevant laws and regulations on U-turn companies in 2026 and implement the revised framework in 2027. First, the government will ease the same-or-similar product and service requirement by broadening how similarity is assessed. In addition to materials, parts, and production processes, assessments will also consider function, use, core technologies, and supply chains. This will help companies invest in new industries and upgrade their business structures. The government will also broaden the exemption cases in which companies can qualify for U-turn recognition without closing, selling, or downsizing their overseas operations. Companies in advanced industries or supply chain sectors will also qualify for this exemption if their investment in Korea is recognized as a core production facility, or “mother factory.” Through these changes, the government aims to move beyond formal requirements and secure advanced manufacturing and innovation capacity in Korea. 2. Reforming the U-Turn Subsidy System The current U-turn subsidy system applies preset subsidy rates under a fixed table, limiting its ability to attract high-quality returning companies to regions outside the capital area. To promote regional investment and U-turn investment in advanced strategic sectors, the government will shift to a case-by-case negotiation model for subsidies. Under the new model, the government and companies will consult on support levels for strategic sectors such as advanced industries and supply chains, as well as large-scale investment projects. Support will vary based on factors including non-capital region investment, youth employment, advanced strategic technologies, and whether the project involves a mother factory. The government will also replace fixed subsidy caps with maximum subsidy rates, while keeping the current system for general industries and small-scale investments. 3. Strengthening Screening and Follow-Up Management Some designated U-turn companies have lost their status after failing to make domestic investments as planned. To improve follow-through and keep unqualified companies out of the system, the government will screen investment plans and companies’ execution capacity more closely from the selection stage. It will also establish a working-level committee on domestic return to systematize company selection and subsidy reviews and set procedures for the negotiated subsidy model. For subsidized companies, the implementation period will be extended beyond the current three years based on the scale of support. Post-designation requirements will also be adjusted to reflect automation at manufacturing sites and changes in the in date2026-05-29

Trade Minister Reviews Export Operations for Korea’s Leading Electrical Equipment Industry

Korea’s exports topped USD 80.0 billion in both March and April 2026, marking new export milestones. In particular, Korean electrical equipment exports are expected to reach a record high in 2026 as global demand grows, driven by AI infrastructure expansion, green energy transition policies, and replacement demand for aging U.S. power grids. Marking the administration’s first anniversary, Minister for Trade Yeo Han-koo of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR, Minister JK Kim) visited HD Hyundai Electric on May 29, 2026. During the visit, Minister Yeo reviewed the company’s export operations and met with the electrical equipment industry to hear directly from companies and discuss government support for expanding Korean electrical equipment exports. At the roundtable, participating companies asked MOTIR to help stabilize supply chains, including those for raw and subsidiary materials, and support continued business operations and exports amid global uncertainty. MOTIR will provide wide-ranging support to help Korean industries, including electrical equipment, sustain export growth. In 2026, the ministry will expand trade insurance to a record KRW 275.0 trillion, including KRW 114.0 trillion for SMEs and middle-market companies, to support balanced growth between large companies and smaller firms. MOTIR will also provide KRW 127.0 trillion over the next five years in financing, performance guarantees, and other support for medium- to long-term, large-scale projects in areas such as nuclear power, defense, and electrical equipment. For electrical equipment, MOTIR will help Korean companies win energy infrastructure projects worldwide by identifying opportunities, matching companies with projects, and arranging early financing as demand rises from AI data centers and other sources. “Even amid global uncertainty, Korea’s electrical equipment industry continues to lead global markets with highly competitive technologies,” Minister Yeo said. “The government will expand trade finance and utilize trade channels with major economies to help Korean companies expand their global reach.” Minister Yeo also met with local Ulsan companies, including Hanjoo Light Metal, INPRO E&C, LIHAON, Colorant Corea, Yetgan, ECOCAB, and Rinno Aluminum, at a working lunch to hear their business concerns. He highlighted that the government will continue supporting local and small businesses as they take their first steps into export markets and provide sustained support for promising SMEs to become key contributors to Korea’s exports. date2026-05-29

Third General Meeting of the AI Home Appliance M.AX Alliance

Choi Woo-hyuk, Director General for High Technology Industry at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR), attended the third general meeting of the AI Home Appliance M.AX Alliance at Electronics Hall in Mapo-gu, Seoul, on May 28, 2026. The meeting brought together about 80 participants from home appliance, component, and AI companies, including Samsung Electronics, LG Electronics, and Coway, as well as universities and specialized institutions. Director General Choi said AI transformation across the manufacturing ecosystem is essential for staying competitive and that MOTIR will support the home appliance industry in advancing product intelligence and AI-based manufacturing transformation together. date2026-05-29

K-Home Appliance Industry to Tackle Challenges with M.AX

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR, Minister JK Kim) held the third general meeting of the Home Appliance M.AX Alliance at Electronics Hall on May 28, 2026. The meeting brought together Choi Woo-hyuk, MOTIR’s Director General for High Technology Industry, and about 80 representatives from Alliance companies and institutions. Launched in September 2025 to help transform Korea’s manufacturing ecosystem, the M.AX Alliance is changing industrial sites across the country. Since its launch with 10 divisions, the Alliance added the Industrial Complex AX Division in February 2026 and has grown into an industry-academia-research network of more than 1,500 companies and institutions across 11 divisions. AI adoption through the Alliance is helping raise manufacturing productivity by shortening production times and improving quality, while also supporting the development of technologies and components for AX products, including robotic hands. The Home Appliance M.AX Alliance has also maintained close communication with participating companies and institutions, focusing on innovative AI products and AI home appliance standards to strengthen the global competitiveness of Korea’s home appliance industry. As supply chain uncertainty grows amid the Middle East conflict and global competitors are closing the gap quickly, the industry faces an increasingly difficult operating environment. The government and industry plan to use the Alliance as a platform to advance AI-based manufacturing transformation, product innovation, and standard-setting. At the meeting, MOTIR announced three major tasks under Home Appliance M.AX to use AI to significantly improve productivity and strengthen innovation across Korea’s home appliance industry. The first task is to develop manufacturing AI models tailored to the specific needs of home appliance production sites. As consumer preferences become more diverse, mixed-model production, where multiple products are produced on a single line, has become essential. MOTIR will develop AI models that enable automated guided vehicles (AGVs), autonomous mobile robots (AMRs), and AI systems to manage production and logistics schedules in response to frequent line changes. Starting with key suppliers in major home appliance production hubs, including Gwangju and Changwon, the ministry will expand AI adoption across small and mid-sized home appliance companies. The goal is to help companies respond quickly and flexibly to orders for a wider range of products. The second task is to build training datasets and common development infrastructure to support the development of innovative AI home appliances. To systematically collect public AI training datasets that are difficult for individual companies to secure on their own, MOTIR will begin surveying Alliance participants in May 2026 and reflect their input in a roadmap for building these datasets. In the second half of 2026, the ministry will conduct a pilot collection of three types of AI training data, including food ingredient images and voice command corpora, before expanding the scope and scale of data collection from 2027 in line with industry and technology trends. MOTIR will also develop and supply common modules, including standard hardware and software development kits for AI home appliances, and open an AI home appliance life-cycle support center in Yongsan in July 2026. The center will support companies from product design to prototype production, helping ease the financial and technical burden on small and mid-sized companies. Third, to build trust in the AI home appliance market, the Korean Agency for Technology and Standards (KATS) will prepare draft Korean Industrial Standards (KS) by the end of 2026 on areas such as technology grades for AI home appliances and inter-device security. MOTIR will also identify relevant policy support measures and link them to these standards to protect co date2026-05-28

Korea Highlights Crisis Management and Growth Opportunities in First-Year Policy Review

On the first anniversary of the launch of the People’s Sovereignty Government, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR, Minister JK Kim) reviewed its policy record over the past year and presented five key achievements. The past year was marked by overlapping crises. Global trade uncertainty and risks to energy and resource supplies from the Middle East weighed on the real economy; global oversupply put key industries, including petrochemicals, under pressure to restructure; and competition for global industrial leadership intensified around AI. MOTIR managed these risks closely while moving decisively to capture future growth opportunities. In November 2025, Korea concluded the Korea–U.S. tariff deal after months of sustained negotiations guided by a clear national-interest-first principle, reducing uncertainty for exporters. The agreement eased tariff burdens on key U.S.-bound exports, including automobiles and pharmaceuticals, and secured semiconductor treatment no less favorable than that of major competitors. Korea also laid the groundwork for strategic industry cooperation with the United States through the Korea–U.S. Strategic Investment MOU, Korea–U.S. shipbuilding cooperation under MASGA, and the Special Act on U.S.-Bound Investment. For the petrochemical industry, MOTIR moved early to restructure the sector and prevent its difficulties from spreading to regional economies. The ministry approved the first restructuring project between HD Hyundai Chemical and Lotte Chemical in Daesan and backed its implementation with more than KRW 2.1 trillion in financing, tax incentives, and regulatory streamlining. The Special Act on Strengthening and Supporting the Competitiveness of the Petrochemical Industry also created a legal basis for restructuring and a shift toward higher-value products. Following the outbreak of the war in the Middle East, the government and industry activated a coordinated public-private response to stabilize supplies of crude oil, naphtha, and other key materials, minimizing disruption to the real economy and people’s daily lives. By May 2026, Korea had secured crude oil and naphtha imports at around 90 percent of the 2025 level, reduced the share of Middle Eastern crude in total crude imports from 70 percent to around 50 percent, and helped restore petrochemical operating rates to about 75 percent. Despite trade and Middle East-related risks, Korea stepped up export support, with exports reaching a record USD 709.3 billion in 2025. Korea became the sixth country in the world to surpass $700 billion in annual exports. Exports have remained on an upward path in 2026, reaching a record $306.5 billion through April, up 40.9 percent year-on-year, putting Korea’s first entry into the world’s top five exporters increasingly within reach. Korea also broadened its export base through emerging-market diversification, growth in K-consumer goods exports, win-win trade finance, preferential loans for exporters, and the launch of K-Export Star 500. Foreign direct investment reached a record $36.1 billion in 2025. Finally, MOTIR began accelerating AI transformation in manufacturing. The ministry launched the Manufacturing AI Transformation (M.AX) Alliance to drive change across Korea’s manufacturing ecosystem. Within about eight months, participation grew to around 1,500 companies and institutions. In 2026, MOTIR will promote 100 new AI factories by applying AI to manufacturing processes in 12 key industries, including semiconductors and shipbuilding, and plans to deploy more than 200 by year-end. The ministry is also expanding AX across processes, products, and regions by operating the Industrial Complex AX Division, linking 10 AX demonstration industrial complexes with regional universities, and developing technologies and core components for AX products such as autonomous vehicles and humanoids. date2026-05-28

Roundtable with Shipbuilding Equipment Suppliers and Small and Medium-Sized Shipbuilders

Minister JK (Jung-Kwan) Kim of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR) chaired a roundtable with shipbuilding equipment suppliers and small and medium-sized shipbuilders at Hanla IMS in Busan on May 27, 2026. Minister Kim delivered opening remarks and listened to industry challenges and policy suggestions. Participants included Kim Young-gu, CEO of Hanla IMS; Lee Min-geol, CEO of PANASIA; Kim Dong-geon, CEO of DongHwa Entec; Yoo Sang-cheol, CEO of HJ Shipbuilding & Construction; Youn Seog-Bong, CEO of Woori Marine; Lee Young-il, CEO of DTEC; and Choo Jin-hun, head of division at the Korea Marine Equipment Research Institute (KOMERI), along with representatives from shipbuilding equipment suppliers, small and medium-sized shipbuilders, and related institutions. Minister Kim said shipbuilding equipment suppliers and small and medium-sized shipbuilders form the foundation of the K-shipbuilding supply chain and are critical to Korea’s maritime security, adding that MOTIR will respond swiftly to on-the-ground needs, including equipment demonstrations, super-gap technology development, and order opportunities. date2026-05-27

Minister Kim Visits Hanla IMS

Minister JK (Jung-Kwan) Kim of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR) visited Hanla IMS, a shipbuilding equipment company in Busan, on May 27, 2026. During the visit, Minister Kim received a briefing from company officials on its operations and on-the-ground challenges. Minister Kim toured the company’s manufacturing and R&D facilities and reviewed progress on its intelligent integrated system for autonomous maintenance. He also inspected the development site for core equipment technologies designed for the era of AI-enabled autonomous ships. date2026-05-27

Opening Ceremony for Korea–India CEPA Upgrade Negotiations

Park Geun-oh, Director General for Trade Agreement Policy at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR, Minister JK Kim), attended the opening ceremony for the Korea–India Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) upgrade negotiations in New Delhi, India, on May 25, 2026. After delivering opening remarks, participants began negotiations in seven areas, including goods, services, rules of origin, and emerging trade rules. The ceremony was attended by government delegations from both countries, including Kapil Chaudhary, Joint Secretary at India’s Department of Commerce. Director General Park said Korea will work to modernize the CEPA so it helps create a more business-friendly trade environment for Korean companies operating in India and covers emerging trade issues, including digital trade and supply chain cooperation. date2026-05-27