Ministry of Trade Industry and Resources

Signing Ceremony for the Agreed Minutes of the 11th Korea-Kazakhstan Joint Committee on Trade, Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation

Minister JK (Jung-Kwan) Kim of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR) attended the signing ceremony for the agreed minutes of the 11th Korea-Kazakhstan Joint Committee on Trade, Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation at the Rixos Hotel in Astana, Kazakhstan, on June 8, 2026. The ceremony was attended by government delegations from both countries, including Nagaspayev Yersaiyn Kairgazievich, Kazakhstan’s Minister of Industry and Construction. Minister Kim said Korea and Kazakhstan are expanding cooperation beyond existing areas such as resources, energy, and plant projects into digital and green sectors, and will use the first Korea-Central Asia Summit in September 2026 as an opportunity to further strengthen bilateral economic cooperation. date2026-06-09

Meeting with Serbian Prime Minister Đuro Macut

Minister for Trade Yeo Han-koo of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR, Minister JK Kim) met with Serbian Prime Minister Đuro Macut in Belgrade, Serbia, on June 5, 2026, during his visit for the signing ceremony marking the conclusion of negotiations for the Korea–Serbia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). date2026-06-09

Roundtable with Korean Companies Operating in Serbia

Minister for Trade Yeo Han-koo of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR, Minister JK Kim) chaired a roundtable with representatives and officials from Korean companies operating in Serbia, including Yura Corporation, Kyungshin Cable, and Hyundai Engineering, in Belgrade, Serbia, on June 5, 2026, during his visit for the signing ceremony marking the conclusion of negotiations for the Korea–Serbia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). At the roundtable, Minister Yeo delivered opening remarks and heard about company-specific on-the-ground difficulties. The meeting also introduced the expected export-expansion effects for major items following the conclusion of the Korea–Serbia CEPA. Minister Yeo said the government will move forward with the necessary follow-up procedures without delay so that businesses and citizens in both countries can begin to experience the benefits of the agreement as soon as possible. date2026-06-09

Meeting with Aramco Downstream President

Vice Minister Moon Shin-hak of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR, Minister JK Kim) met with Mohammed Y. Al Qahtani, Downstream President of Aramco, Saudi Arabia’s state-owned oil company, at Mugunghwa Hall of Government Complex Seoul on June 5, 2026. The two sides discussed how to strengthen medium- and long-term resource security cooperation, including stable supplies of crude oil and naphtha, and expand cooperation on plant construction projects. date2026-06-08

Korea, Kazakhstan Strengthen Economic Cooperation on Supply Chains and Energy

1. Korea-Kazakhstan Economic Joint Committee Minister JK (Jung-Kwan) Kim of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR) and Yersaiyn Nagaspayev, Kazakhstan’s Minister of Industry and Construction, held the 11th meeting of the Korea–Kazakhstan Joint Committee on Trade, Economic, Scientific, and Technical Cooperation in Astana, Kazakhstan, on June 8, 2026. Established under the bilateral trade agreement that entered into force in 1992, the Joint Committee is the highest-level consultative body between the Korean and Kazakh governments. Korea’s Minister of Trade, Industry and Resources and Kazakhstan’s Minister of Industry and Construction serve as chief delegates, with relevant ministries and agencies also taking part. The meeting was the first in two years, following the 10th meeting in May 2024. At the meeting, the two sides discussed cooperation across trade and investment, energy and resources, construction, digital affairs and intellectual property, and the environment. On trade and investment, they discussed ways to move toward concluding the Korea-Kazakhstan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) to upgrade bilateral economic cooperation. They also agreed to work together to resolve issues affecting Korean companies operating in Kazakhstan, including in electronics, automobiles, and plant projects, and to support smoother business operations. On energy and resources, the two sides agreed to cooperate to secure stable crude oil imports as the war in the Middle East has increased uncertainty over energy supplies. They also agreed to expand cooperation on building Kazakhstan’s power infrastructure and modernizing aging power plants. On construction, the two sides discussed sharing Korea’s smart city development experience and expanding business participation in Alatau, a new city project the Kazakh government is prioritizing. They also agreed to continue discussions on cooperation between Korean and Kazakh companies in urban air mobility (UAM) as part of the project. The two sides also agreed to continue cooperation on digital affairs and intellectual property, including IP protection and efforts to combat counterfeit goods. On the environment, they discussed international greenhouse gas mitigation projects under the Paris Agreement, water management technologies, forest restoration, and climate action. “Korea and Kazakhstan are broadening cooperation beyond existing areas such as resources, energy, and plant projects into digital and green sectors,” Minister Kim said. “We will continue follow-up consultations on the issues discussed at the Joint Committee and utilize the first Korea-Central Asia Summit, scheduled for September 2026, as an opportunity to further strengthen bilateral economic cooperation.” 2. Meeting with Kazakhstan’s Minister of Energy Minister Kim also met with Yerlan Akkenzhenov, Kazakhstan’s Minister of Energy, and reviewed progress on crude oil imports following the April 2026 visit to Kazakhstan by Kang Hoon-sik, Special Presidential Envoy for Strategic Economic Cooperation. The two sides agreed to continue cooperation to stabilize crude oil supply. They also agreed to support the smooth implementation of the Karachaganak gas processing plant project, which Korean companies secured, and to work together so that the Ekibastuz power plant modernization project can make early progress. MOTIR will further develop the key cooperation tasks identified during the Kazakhstan visit, including energy, plant projects, and smart cities, and continue follow-up consultations to help bilateral economic cooperation lead to tangible results. date2026-06-08

Korea and ASEAN Hold First Official Round of FTA Upgrade Negotiations

Korea and ASEAN will hold the first official round of negotiations to upgrade their Free Trade Agreement (FTA) in Seoul from June 8 to 12, 2026, as they seek to adapt the agreement to shifts in the trade environment, including supply chain realignment and digital transformation. The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR, Minister JK Kim) said delegations from both sides will attend the talks, with Park Geun-oh, Director General for Trade Agreement Policy at MOTIR, and Alpana Roy, Director-General at Singapore’s Ministry of Trade and Industry, serving as the chief negotiators for Korea and ASEAN, respectively. Following their October 2025 agreement at the Korea–ASEAN Summit to launch the upgrade negotiations, the two sides confirmed the 2026 work plan at the first Joint Committee meeting in April 2026 and agreed to move the talks forward without delay. The first official round will cover 13 areas, including digital trade, critical minerals, and supply chains. The two sides will also hold the second Korea–ASEAN FTA Joint Committee meeting to review progress across the negotiating areas and, if necessary, discuss the direction of negotiations on key issues at the committee level. “This first official round marks the full launch of negotiations to upgrade the Korea–ASEAN FTA,” said Director General Park. “Korea will engage actively in the talks to achieve meaningful progress in areas tied to the future competitiveness of Korean companies, including digital trade, critical minerals, and supply chains.” date2026-06-08

Meeting with Serbian Chamber of Commerce President Marko Čadež

Minister for Trade Yeo Han-koo of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR, Minister JK Kim) met with Serbian Chamber of Commerce President Marko Čadež in Belgrade, Serbia, on June 5, 2026, during his visit for the signing ceremony marking the conclusion of negotiations for the Korea–Serbia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). date2026-06-08

Meeting with Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Adrijana Mesarović

Minister for Trade Yeo Han-koo of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR, Minister JK Kim) met with Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Adrijana Mesarović in Belgrade, Serbia, on June 5, 2026, during his visit for the signing ceremony marking the conclusion of negotiations for the Korea–Serbia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). The two sides shared the view that the Korea–Serbia CEPA creates a foundation for expanding bilateral trade and investment and agreed to further strengthen their strategic partnership. Minister Yeo said the CEPA will elevate economic cooperation with Serbia, Korea’s key partner in the Western Balkans, and establish a platform for cooperation in future industries. date2026-06-08

Korea and Mongolia Hold Fifth Round of Official CEPA Negotiations

Amid the reorganization of global supply chains and the growing need to expand economic cooperation with emerging markets, the fifth round of official negotiations for the Korea-Mongolia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) will be held from June 8 to 11, 2026, in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR, Minister JK Kim) said about 40 negotiators from the two countries will attend the fifth round. Korea’s delegation will be led by Kwon Hye-jin, Deputy Minister for Trade Negotiations, while Mongolia’s delegation will be led by State Secretary Batkhuu Idesh of the Ministry of Economy and Development. Korea and Mongolia launched CEPA negotiations in December 2023 and held four official rounds through November 2024, before the talks were temporarily suspended due to circumstances on the Mongolian side. Since March 2026, the two sides have discussed resuming the process, securing momentum to continue the negotiations after a one-year-and-seven-month pause. Korea and Mongolia have highly complementary industrial and trade structures. Korea has manufacturing and technology capabilities, while Mongolia is a resource-rich country with abundant reserves of critical minerals such as lithium, copper, and rare earth elements. Combining these strengths, the two countries are expected to expand bilateral trade and investment and deepen economic cooperation, including on supply chains. During this round, the two sides will hold negotiations across 15 areas, including tariff concessions, services, investment, rules of origin, and economic cooperation. The services discussions will be held by videoconference. The two sides will seek to resolve a wide range of outstanding issues and accelerate progress in the negotiations. “Amid growing uncertainty in the global trade environment, the CEPA with Mongolia will help Korean companies enter emerging markets and strengthen supply chain stability,” Deputy Minister Kwon said. “Through this round, we will seek progress on key issues and lay the groundwork for concluding the negotiations as soon as possible.” date2026-06-08

MOTIR Minister to Visit Kazakhstan, the Middle East, and the Czech Republic to Strengthen Supply Chain and Industrial Cooperation

Minister JK (Jung-Kwan) Kim of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR) will visit Kazakhstan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and the Czech Republic from June 7 to 18, 2026. During the visit, Minister Kim will meet with senior officials to review energy and resource supplies and strengthen economic and industrial cooperation. From June 7 to 9, 2026, Minister Kim will visit Astana, Kazakhstan, to convene the 11th Korea-Kazakhstan Joint Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, and Technical Cooperation. The two sides will discuss expanding cooperation in energy and resources, digital industries, and green sectors. Minister Kim will also meet with Kazakh government officials, including the Head of the Presidential Administration and the Minister of Energy, to discuss stable crude oil supplies and cooperation on critical minerals and plant projects. After joining the official program for the President’s visit to Europe, Minister Kim will visit Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from June 13 to 16, 2026, as a follow-up to the Middle East visit by the Presidential Special Envoy for Strategic Economic Cooperation. He will meet with senior officials, including ministers responsible for resources and industry, to discuss securing stable supply chains for crude oil, LNG, and other key resources. The talks will also cover country-specific industrial cooperation in manufacturing infrastructure and advanced industries. Minister Kim will then visit the Czech Republic from June 17 to 18, 2026. He will hold the second meeting of the Dukovany Steering Committee, launched in February 2026, to review progress on the Dukovany new nuclear power plant project and discuss next steps. At the third ministerial-level Korea-Czech Supply Chain and Energy Dialogue (SCED), he will also review cooperative projects and joint R&D in advanced industries, including robotics, batteries, and semiconductors. In addition, Minister Kim will attend a Korea-Czech nuclear power business partnership event and visit a robotics testbed at Czech Technical University in Prague to discuss expanding bilateral cooperation in key sectors. “As uncertainty over the recent conflict in the Middle East continues, securing stable energy and resource supplies has become increasingly important,” Minister Kim said. “Through the visits to Kazakhstan and the Middle East, MOTIR will discuss supply arrangements for crude oil, LNG, and other key resources, strengthen cooperation in critical minerals, plant projects, and nuclear power, and support Korean companies in building a stronger foothold overseas.” “MOTIR will support the smooth and successful implementation of the Dukovany new nuclear power plant project, while building on the trust Korea and the Czech Republic have developed through the project to expand cooperation into advanced industries such as robotics, batteries, and future mobility,” Minister Kim added. “We will also help ensure that progress in nuclear power cooperation leads to cooperation in future strategic industries and further deepens the strategic economic partnership between the two countries.” date2026-06-08