Ministry of Trade Industry and Resources

Korea’s Nuclear Industry to Join Global Supply Chains

The 2026 Nuclear Export and Safety Confex (NES 2026) will take place at the Hwabaek International Convention Center (HICO) in Gyeongju from October 27 to 29, 2026. The three-day international event will explore opportunities for Korean nuclear companies to enter overseas markets and cooperate with partners in global supply chains. Now in its third edition, the event is jointly organized by the Korea Nuclear Association for International Cooperation (KNA) and HICO and sponsored by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR, Minister JK Kim). The opening ceremony will be held on October 28, 2026. Attendees will include Kang Gam-chan, Deputy Minister for International Trade and Investment at MOTIR; Kim Dong-cheol, President of KNA and President and CEO of Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO); Choi Young-sook, Head of the Pan East Sea Regional Headquarters of Gyeongsangbuk-do; Joo Nak-young, Mayor of Gyeongju; Joe Orgeron, a member of the Louisiana House of Representatives in the United States; Carl Coe, former Chief of Staff at the U.S. Department of Energy; and Cao Hoai Duong, Vice President of Vietnam’s Petrovietnam (PVN). The event will bring together 120 nuclear companies from Korea and other countries, including the United States, France, Canada, Vietnam, and the Czech Republic, along with approximately 3,000 nuclear industry participants. Their participation demonstrates strong global interest in Korea’s nuclear industry and enthusiasm for working with Korean companies. Under the theme “Leading the Global Nuclear Supply Chain,” this year’s event features a range of programs, including conferences, business meetings, and an exhibition. These programs will explore how Korean nuclear companies can expand their participation in global supply chains, including through follow-on opportunities arising from projects to build eight large nuclear power reactors in the United States under the Korea-U.S. Nuclear Power Framework announced on October 1, 2026. Conferences on October 27 and 29 will cover the importance of nuclear power as AI use expands, the future of small modular reactors (SMRs) and opportunities to enter the SMR market, and experiences of participating in overseas supply chains. In particular, two sessions—the “U.S. Nuclear Construction Project Briefing” on the morning of October 27 and “Supply Chain Opportunities for Large-Scale U.S. Nuclear Power Plants” on the morning of October 29—are expected to offer Korean companies a valuable opportunity to explore entry into overseas markets, including the United States, following the recent announcement of the Korea-U.S. Nuclear Power Framework. B2B export meetings on October 27 and 28 will bring together 55 overseas buyer companies and 70 Korean small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and middle market enterprises. To help the meetings lead to actual exports rather than remain one-off encounters, each company will receive a schedule of one-on-one meetings based on an advance survey of participants’ interests. Major anchor companies from around the world are attending as buyers, including TerraPower of the United States, EDF and Framatome of France, AtkinsRéalis of Canada, and PVN of Vietnam. The exhibition will feature 182 booths operated by 77 Korean and foreign companies and institutions. Exhibitors will include large Korean companies and public enterprises supplying nuclear equipment or providing engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) services. Companies will also participate in groups through joint pavilions, including the Team Korea Pavilion with four companies, the SMR Pavilion with 10 companies, and the Nuclear Export First Step Pavilion with 18 companies. Together, they will actively promote the export capabilities of Korean nuclear companies across the full nuclear power lifecycle to a global audience.  In his congratulatory rema date2026-10-27

22nd Korea–Japan (Hokuriku) Economic Exchange Conference

Bae Jun-hyoung, Director General for International Trade Relations at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR, Minister JK Kim), attended the 22nd Korea–Japan (Hokuriku) Economic Exchange Conference in Daegu on October 23, 2026. Around 150 participants attended, representing central and local governments, business associations, companies, and research institutions, including MOTIR and the Chubu Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry under Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. Participants discussed expanding cooperation in future industries, including advanced materials, AI, and robotics, building on the manufacturing capabilities developed by regional industries in both countries. In his congratulatory remarks, Director General Bae emphasized the importance of cooperation between local governments and regional businesses to the broader, long-term development of Korea–Japan economic cooperation. He pledged support to ensure that the conference brings together the strengths of regional industries in both countries and creates new growth opportunities in future industries. date2026-10-23

Korea and Japan to Expand Cooperation in Future Industries, Including AI and Robotics

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR, Minister JK Kim) held the 22nd Korea–Hokuriku (Japan) Economic Exchange Conference in Daegu on October 23, 2026, jointly with the Chubu Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry under Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI). The two sides discussed expanding cooperation in future industries, including advanced materials, AI, and robotics, by drawing on the manufacturing capabilities that regional industries in both countries have built over the years. The conference brought together approximately 150 participants, including representatives from the national and local governments, economic organizations, companies, and research institutions of both countries. It was jointly organized by the Korea-Japan Economic Association, the Hokuriku Economic Federation, and the Around Japan Sea Economic Exchange Conference in Hokuriku (Hokuriku AJEC). The Korea–Hokuriku (Japan) Economic Exchange Conference is a longstanding channel for economic cooperation between local governments and businesses in the two countries. Over the 26 years since 2000, excluding the COVID-19 pandemic period, the conference has facilitated cooperation in trade, investment, and industrial technology between four Korean regions—Daegu, Ulsan, Gangwon, and Gyeongbuk—and the three Hokuriku prefectures of Toyama, Ishikawa, and Fukui in Japan. Under the theme “Beyond Commemorating the 60th Anniversary of the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations: Taking Action,” this year’s conference focused on exploring concrete forms of cooperation in future industries, building on the trust and exchanges established over the years. In advanced materials, participants discussed technological cooperation that brings together manufacturing and research capabilities in both countries. Gyeongbuk TechnoPark, Japan’s TSUDAKOMA Corp., and the Innovative Composite Materials Research & Development Center at Kanazawa Institute of Technology shared information on carbon fiber composite technologies and related research findings. They also explored ways to pursue joint research and technical exchanges. On AI and robotics, discussions focused on applying these technologies in industrial settings and expanding their use. Tilon, a cloud software company, and iM Robotics Corp., a robotics automation solutions provider, presented examples of AI-based workplace innovation and smart factories using autonomous mobile robots, respectively. The companies discussed how AI and robotics can improve productivity on factory floors and explored new opportunities for cooperation with the Hokuriku region. Participants also discussed ways to foster industries and support businesses for the sustained growth and economic revitalization of regions in both countries. Korea presented policies to develop the AI and robotics industries, help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) enter overseas markets, and address regional depopulation. Japan shared policies on industrial cluster development and well-being. The two sides explored approaches to growth that reflect each region’s industrial characteristics and strengths. “Cooperation between Korean and Japanese local governments and regional businesses is important for bilateral economic ties to broaden and develop over the long term,” said Bae Jun-hyoung, Director General for International Trade Relations at MOTIR. “We will provide active support to help this conference bring together the strengths of regional industries in both countries and create new growth opportunities in future industries.” date2026-10-23

Korea and EU Discuss Key Trade Issues, Including Export Challenges and Regulatory Cooperation

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR, Minister JK Kim) held the 14th meeting of the Korea–EU Committee on Trade in Goods with the European Union (EU) via videoconference on October 21, 2026. Established under the Korea–EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA), the committee serves as a channel for consultations on tariff and non-tariff issues concerning trade in goods. The two sides reviewed the implementation of the FTA and discussed major trade issues and ways to address market-access challenges for companies on both sides. Since entering into force in 2011, the Korea–EU FTA has served as a key foundation for expanding bilateral economic cooperation. The two sides have maintained solid economic ties despite growing uncertainty in the international trading environment, such as the spread of protectionism and the restructuring of global supply chains. In particular, bilateral trade increased by approximately 64 percent, from USD 83.3 billion before the FTA entered into force to USD 136.8 billion in 2025. At the meeting, Korea requested the EU’s attention and cooperation to ensure that new EU regulations do not place excessive burdens on Korean companies or act as unreasonable trade barriers. These include the Industrial Accelerator Act (IAA), Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), and requirements for cosmetics safety assessments. In particular, on the IAA, Korea emphasized its role as a trusted partner that has contributed to strengthening EU industrial competitiveness through investment and job creation in key industries, including automobiles and batteries. Korea asked the EU to ensure that excessive local-content requirements do not undermine the competitiveness of companies on both sides or supply chain stability. In addition, given the mutually beneficial trade relationship under the Korea–EU FTA, Korea requested that Korean components and final assembly in Korea receive the same treatment as their respective EU counterparts in public procurement, public support, and other areas. It also requested sufficient transition periods and reasonable exemptions that reflect supply chain conditions in strategic industries, including automobiles, low-carbon steel, and nuclear power. On CBAM, Korea requested that Korean verification bodies receive prompt accreditation on the same terms as EU-based bodies. It also emphasized that the extension of CBAM to downstream steel and aluminum products, scheduled for 2028, should cover as few products as possible and allow sufficient transition periods for companies to adapt to the regulation. On the PPWR, Korea explained that semiconductor packaging requires special materials to prevent electrostatic discharge and protect products. To ensure a stable supply of semiconductors, Korea requested exemptions for semiconductor packaging from requirements on design for recycling, recycled content, and reuse. On cosmetics, Korea requested clearer qualification criteria so that professionals who have earned relevant degrees in Korea can also be recognized as cosmetics safety assessors in the EU. It also requested improvements to the system to ensure that cosmetics safety reports prepared by specialized institutions in Korea are consistently accepted across EU member states. The two sides also discussed expanding the recognition of equivalence between their automotive technical regulations and how to pursue a mutual recognition agreement (MRA). Korea expressed hope that additional technical consultations on amending the automotive annex would proceed smoothly. On the MRA, Korea agreed to continue discussions with the EU while taking account of regulatory conditions in each sector, with the aim of expanding opportunities for companies on both sides to enter each other’s markets by reducing certification costs and time. On issues of interest to the EU, including offshore wi date2026-10-22

MOTIR Showcases the Investment Appeal of Companies Undergoing Business Restructuring

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR, Minister JK Kim) and the Korea Productivity Center (KPC) jointly held an investment briefing for companies with approved business restructuring plans in Seoul on October 21, 2026. The event was the first of two sessions of the 2026 investment briefing for these companies, with the second scheduled for October 28, 2026. Since last year, MOTIR has offered consulting services on attracting investment and held investment briefings for companies with approved business restructuring plans. The programs help companies attract investment by presenting their competitive strengths and growth strategies to investors based on the projects they pursue after their restructuring plans are approved. This year’s briefings feature 15 companies that received consulting services on attracting investment. Seven will present to investment firms at the October 21 session and eight at the October 28 session. A preliminary survey found that substantially more investment firms expressed interest in participating than last year, further improving the approved companies’ prospects of attracting investment.  The participating companies’ main projects are outlined below. Daewon F&C has developed equipment that uses ceramic materials to transfer semiconductor wafers. The equipment removes static electricity during semiconductor production to improve yields. Nine Labs offers liquid cooling solutions that substantially reduce electricity consumption at AI data centers, promoting advances in AI. RoboLife has developed a lightweight mobility assistance robot that can be attached to and detached from a manual wheelchair. By simplifying its components, the company has lowered the price to encourage wider adoption. Arion has developed and completed demonstration testing of a drone platform that enables autonomous operation and integrated control of unmanned vehicles (drones).   Sebo Technology has domestically developed rotor sails—wind propulsion systems for eco-friendly ships—and aims to lead the market with prices below those of Japanese and European products. MK Steel has developed AI-based inspection equipment for detecting foreign matter on steel surfaces, an essential step in steel processing. The company plans to supply the equipment to small and medium-sized steel companies to improve productivity and ensure workplace safety. Hyojin E&HY has developed equipment that converts greenhouse gases, including methane and carbon dioxide, into clean fuels such as hydrogen and methanol. The equipment is expected to lower the cost of cutting greenhouse gas emissions, easing the burden on companies. Participating investment firms expressed high expectations for the commercial viability and growth potential of the companies with approved restructuring plans. They also hoped for more opportunities to meet the companies. The firms further expressed their intention to contribute to business growth and industrial transformation by continuing to identify companies undergoing business restructuring that have strong prospects for success. “This event introduced investors to the achievements of companies pursuing renewed growth through business restructuring, providing a valuable opportunity for the companies to rekindle growth,” said Nam Myung-woo, Director General for Industrial Policy at MOTIR. “Successful business restructuring is essential to improving companies’ business fundamentals and strengthening their competitiveness. We will expand consulting and support for business restructuring and create more opportunities for companies and investors to connect.” date2026-10-21

Boom-Up Korea Biz Week 2026 Opens, Bringing Together 530 Global Buyers Including Lonza and JD.com

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR, Minister JK Kim) will hold the opening ceremony for Boom-Up Korea Biz Week 2026 on October 21, 2026, at KINTEX in Ilsan. The largest multisector export business-matching event in Korea will run for two days, from October 21 to 22. The event will bring together 530 global companies, including major names such as Lonza, JD.com, and Mitsubishi Electric, and 1,400 promising Korean companies. It aims to facilitate approximately 4,500 export consultations and the signing of 100 memorandums of understanding (MOUs), with a target of approximately USD 200 million in export contracts. Launched in 2015, Boom-Up Korea is Korea’s largest multisector export business-matching event, inviting major overseas buyers to Korea for one-on-one meetings with Korean companies. Now established as one of the country’s flagship export support events, this year’s program will focus on expanding participation by regional companies in line with growth engines under the Five Mega-Regions and Three Special Self-Governing Provinces (5+3) framework; providing targeted support for emerging industries such as biotechnology and consumer goods; and broadening Korea’s export base by linking exhibitions nationwide with online and regional export consultations. First, the event will substantially expand participation by companies outside the Seoul Capital Area to promote “Exports for All,” in line with regional growth engines under the 5+3 framework. At least 50 percent of the Korean companies participating in Boom-Up Korea will be selected from outside the Seoul Capital Area. The program will provide full support to help competitive, promising regional companies create business opportunities, including through direct engagement with global buyers. The event will also focus on fostering emerging industries, including Korean biotechnology and consumer goods, as the next drivers of export growth. Approximately 360 global buyers in promising export sectors such as biotechnology, cosmetics, and food will participate, along with key companies such as Lonza and JD.com, to expand their engagement with Korean businesses. Moreover, the event will reach well beyond the physical confines of KINTEX and the constraints of its two-day schedule. By linking with 11 major industry exhibitions nationwide, holding online export consultations, and hosting export consultation roadshows in Daegu and Chungbuk, the program will bring export support to companies across the country. It aims to create the best possible conditions for promising companies nationwide to meet overseas buyers, regardless of location, and translate those meetings into tangible export results. In particular, Boom-Up Korea Biz Week 2026 will run alongside M.AX CON, a forum for business and technology exchanges on AI in manufacturing, to generate greater synergies. M.AX CON, which will take place on October 21, will bring together key figures in the global manufacturing AI ecosystem, including Professor Raffaello D’Andrea of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETH Zurich) and President Park Min-woo of Hyundai Motor Group, as well as experts from Korean and international companies such as IBM, Qualcomm, and POSCO. They will discuss AI adoption at manufacturing sites and effective approaches to cooperation, focusing on AI factories, industrial robots and physical AI, and autonomous manufacturing.   Kang Gam-chan, Deputy Minister for International Trade and Investment at MOTIR, emphasized that with the historic milestone of USD 1 trillion in exports coming within reach, Korea will continue to broaden its export base so that more companies across industries and regions can enter global markets, making “Exports for All” a reality. “We hope this year’s Boom-Up Korea will give Korean companies an opportunity to identify new markets and business partners, date2026-10-21

Korea and the Czech Republic Discuss Ways to Further Develop Nuclear Power Cooperation

Minister JK (Jung-Kwan) Kim of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR) held the third meeting of the Dukovany Steering Committee with Czech Minister of Industry and Trade Karel Havlíček via videoconference on October 20, 2026. The ministers reviewed progress on the Dukovany new nuclear power plant project. They also discussed strengthening nuclear power cooperation and how to respond to the EU’s proposed Industrial Accelerator Act in relation to nuclear power. The two sides confirmed that the project has progressed on schedule to date. They reviewed the timeline and plans for meeting key milestones on time, including submitting applications for permits and licenses in the Czech Republic. They also discussed ways to strengthen cooperation between the Korean and Czech nuclear industries, both on the Dukovany project and in the global nuclear power market. Minister Kim expressed concern to the Czech side that discussions on the EU’s proposed Industrial Accelerator Act, announced in March 2026, were moving toward excessive restrictions on non-EU countries’ participation in the EU nuclear power market. He emphasized that, with the EU’s nuclear supply chain weakened, cooperation with countries that have strong supply chains, such as Korea, is essential for nuclear power plant construction plans in the Czech Republic and other EU countries to proceed without disruption. As Korea–Czech nuclear power cooperation develops into a broader partnership encompassing advanced industries and other sectors, he asked the Czech Republic to continue its diplomatic efforts within the EU to ensure that the proposed Act does not hinder bilateral cooperation. The two sides agreed to hold the fourth meeting of the Dukovany Steering Committee in Korea before the end of 2026. They also plan to organize business-to-business events alongside the meeting to strengthen cooperation between the Korean and Czech nuclear industries and generate a range of meaningful outcomes. At the third meeting of the Committee, Minister Kim also commented on Temelín Units 3 and 4, whose development is currently under consideration by the Czech government. “Large-scale nuclear power plants will be needed to support the development of the Czech Republic’s advanced industries,” Minister Kim said. He expressed hope that the Korea–Czech nuclear power partnership would continue at Temelín Units 3 and 4, following Dukovany. He added, “Continued meetings of the Dukovany Steering Committee are particularly meaningful because they allow both countries to share information transparently and jointly explore ways to ensure the smooth implementation and further development of bilateral nuclear power cooperation.” date2026-10-21

Opening Ceremony for Boom-Up Korea Biz Week 2026

Kang Gam-chan, Deputy Minister for International Trade and Investment at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR, Minister JK Kim), attended the opening ceremony for Boom-Up Korea Biz Week 2026 at KINTEX Exhibition Center 2 in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, on October 21, 2026. The event brought together major global companies, including Lonza, JD.com, and Mitsubishi Electric, and promising Korean companies. At the event, Deputy Minister Kang delivered congratulatory remarks, took part in the opening ceremony, and toured the exhibition halls. In his remarks, Deputy Minister Kang emphasized that Korea will continue to broaden its export base so that more companies across industries and regions can enter global markets, making “Exports for All” a reality. date2026-10-21

Third Meeting of the Dukovany Steering Committee

Minister JK (Jung-Kwan) Kim of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR) held the third meeting of the Dukovany Steering Committee via videoconference from his office at the Government Complex Seoul on October 20, 2026. Participants included Czech Minister of Industry and Trade Karel Havlíček and representatives from the Korean and Czech governments, companies, and institutions. Following Minister Kim’s opening remarks, participants reviewed progress on the Dukovany new nuclear power plant project. They also discussed strengthening nuclear power cooperation and how to respond to the EU’s proposed Industrial Accelerator Act in relation to nuclear power. Minister Kim emphasized that continued committee meetings allow both countries to share information transparently and jointly explore ways to ensure the smooth implementation and further development of bilateral nuclear power cooperation. date2026-10-21

M.AX Certification Now Recognized Overseas

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR, Minister JK Kim) held the fourth Industrial AI International Certification Forum at COEX in Seoul on October 20, 2026, together with the Korea Testing Laboratory (KTL), the Korea Institute for Advancement of Technology (KIAT), and other relevant organizations. Testing and certification are becoming increasingly important as Manufacturing AI Transformation (M.AX) expands across manufacturing sites and international demand grows for evidence of AI safety and reliability. In particular, differing certification requirements across countries and duplicate testing place a burden on Korean companies entering overseas markets. This has increased the need for cooperation on certification that allows testing and evaluation results to be used abroad. Industrial AI International Certification, also known as M.AX certification, assesses and certifies the performance and reliability of products and services used for AI transformation in manufacturing, such as automated defect inspection and equipment failure prediction, based on international standards developed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). The certification system has been developed primarily by Korean testing and certification bodies, helping companies objectively demonstrate the reliability of their AI products and services. Since November 2025, however, mutual recognition with CertX, a Swiss certification body, has enabled companies to use testing and evaluation results from Korea to apply for and obtain overseas certification as needed. At the forum, two Korean companies, Hyundai AutoEver and Wizcore, were presented with joint certificates from KTL and CertX under the two bodies’ mutual recognition arrangement. The arrangement allows the companies to obtain overseas certification without repeating tests for items covered by mutual recognition. They can therefore reduce the cost and time required for certification and use the certificates to demonstrate the performance and reliability of their products and services to overseas customers. Since its launch in 2023, the forum has gradually strengthened the certification framework by establishing a certification system, issuing Korea’s first industrial AI certificates, and increasing the number of testing and evaluation bodies. The issuance of overseas certificates at this year’s forum marks a concrete result of the domestic certification infrastructure developed to date. This cooperation on certification is expected to be of great help to Korean companies that are preparing to address overseas AI regulations, including the EU AI Act, in demonstrating the reliability of their products and services and entering overseas markets. At the conference, Lauro Locks, Counsellor at the World Trade Organization (WTO), and Korea University Professor Lee Sang-keun gave presentations on the changing international trade environment in the AI era and the importance of ensuring reliability. Korean companies, including Lotte Corporation, Hyundai AutoEver, and Wizcore, also shared their experience in using industrial AI certification and their strategies for entering overseas markets. “The overseas certificates issued at the forum mark a meaningful achievement that demonstrates the potential for Korea’s testing and certification system to be used internationally,” said Kim Kyu-sung, President of the Korean Agency for Technology and Standards (KATS). “We will expand mutual recognition with overseas certification bodies to reduce the burden of duplicate testing on companies and actively support Korean companies pursuing M.AX in entering global markets.” date2026-10-20