Ministry of Trade Industry and Resources

Korea to Establish Largest-Ever Integrated Pavilion at CES 2026

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR, Minister JK Kim) and the Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS, Minister Han Seong-sook) announced that they will engage in a whole-of-government collaboration to establish the largest-ever Korea Pavilion at CES 2026 (Consumer Electronics Show), to be held in Las Vegas in the United States, from January 6 to 9, 2026 (Tuesday to Friday).   CES is a leading global exhibition showcasing cutting-edge technologies in IT and consumer electronics. Under the theme “Innovators Show Up,” CES 2026 is expected to feature a wide range of innovative products and services applying AI technologies across sectors, including consumer electronics, mobility, and healthcare.   The exhibition will bring together approximately 4,500 companies from more than 150 countries. Korea will be represented by around 1,000 companies, ranging from major conglomerates such as Samsung, LG, Hyundai, and SK to innovative SMEs and promising startups with advanced technologies.   This year, centered on MOTIR’s Integrated Korea Pavilion and MSS’s K-Startup Integrated Pavilion, the government will build and operate a Korea Pavilion with unified booth designs, logos, and other branding elements, involving 38 organizations and 470 companies. Through large-scale national pavilion operations and “Korea Premium” marketing, the initiative is expected to enhance the effectiveness of participating Korean companies’ export marketing efforts.   Participating companies will be offered business networking opportunities with global firms—including Walmart and Intel—through a series of programs, such as an on-site expert seminar on January 5, technology demonstration sessions on January 6 and January 9, and the K-Innovation Pitching Challenge from January 7 to 8.    Meanwhile, according to the first-round results of the CES Innovation Awards announced in early November by the Consumer Technology Association (CTA), 168 Korean companies were named among the 284 overall award-winning companies.   Despite intense competition with more than 3,600 products submitted this year, Korea ranked first in the number of award recipients for the third consecutive year, once again demonstrating its global technological competitiveness on the international stage.   More than 80 percent of the 168 Korean award-winning companies were SMEs, totaling 137 firms. With AI expected to be the core theme of CES this year, Korean companies not only swept all three Best of Innovation Awards in the AI category, but also recorded the highest number of Innovation Awards, with 28 awards.   Minister Kim noted, “Amid intensifying competition for technological leadership in AI, CES—the world’s premier showcase of innovative technologies—will be an opportunity for Korean companies to demonstrate their technological capabilities and potential.” He added, “The government will actively provide support to ensure that innovation translates into export outcomes.”   Minister Han stated, “By delivering strong results at CES 2026, Korea’s venture and startup companies have made a clear impression on the global stage that Korea has the technological capabilities to lead future markets.” She added, “The government will continue to support innovative companies so that they can leverage CES as a stepping stone to expand globally.” date2026-01-05

Korea’s Annual Exports Reach New Highs in 2025

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR, Minister JK Kim) announced that Korea’s exports in 2025 reached USD 709.7 billion, up 3.8 percent year-on-year, marking the first time exports surpassed $700 billion and the highest annual performance on record. Daily average exports also climbed 4.6 percent from the previous year to a record $2.64 billion. Korea’s imports in 2025 stood at $631.7 billion, remaining broadly flat (down 0.02 percent year-on-year) as non-energy imports—including semiconductor manufacturing equipment—increased and energy imports declined amid falling global oil prices. The trade balance posted a surplus of $78.0 billion, extending the surplus streak to 11 consecutive months and improving by $26.2 billion year-on-year. This marked Korea’s largest trade surplus since 2017, when the surplus stood at $95.2 billion. Exports continued to be driven by its core industries—including semiconductors, automobiles, and ships—while electrical equipment, agricultural and fishery products, and cosmetics each recorded their highest export values on record, emerging as new growth drivers. By destination, exports became more diversified, with reliance on the United States and China decreasing and exports to ASEAN, Latin America, and the CIS increasing. In 2025, exports increased in six of Korea’s 15 key export items, alongside solid growth in promising items outside the top 15, including electrical equipment, agricultural and fishery products, and cosmetics. Exports of semiconductors, Korea’s largest export item, rose 22.2 percent year-on-year to an all-time high of $173.4 billion, supported by solid demand from AI data centers and a sharp rise in fixed prices for memory chips. Monthly semiconductor exports set new highs for nine consecutive months beginning in April. Automobile exports totaled $72.0 billion, up 1.7 percent, setting a new record (previously $70.9 billion in 2023). While exports to the U.S.—the largest market—declined due to tariff impacts, shipments to the EU and the CIS rose on strong demand for hybrid vehicles and used cars. Bio-health exports rose 7.9 percent to $16.3 billion, extending their growth streak for a second consecutive year. Ship exports surged 24.9 percent to $32.0 billion, while exports of computers ($13.8 billion, up 4.5 percent) and wireless communication devices ($17.3 billion, up 0.4 percent) also increased. Meanwhile, exports of items outside the top 15 increased 5.5 percent to $157.4 billion, marking a new high and further diversifying Korea’s export portfolio. Exports of agricultural and fishery products, cosmetics, and electrical equipment reached record highs, reflecting growing global demand for K-food and K-beauty products as well as rising electricity demand worldwide. By contrast, exports of petroleum products declined due to lower unit prices, while exports of petrochemicals and steel fell amid declining product prices caused by global oversupply. Exports expanded in six of Korea’s nine major export markets in 2025. Exports to China, Korea’s largest export destination, declined 1.7 percent to $130.8 billion, as decreases in petrochemicals, wireless communication devices, and general machinery offset solid semiconductor exports. Exports to the U.S. fell 3.8 percent to $122.9 billion, reflecting declines in automobiles, general machinery, and auto parts. However, double-digit growth in semiconductor exports helped moderate the overall decline. Korea’s trade surplus with the U.S. stood at $49.5 billion, down $6.1 billion from 2024. Exports to ASEAN rose 7.4 percent to $122.5 billion, driven by semiconductors, raising ASEAN’s share of total exports from 16.7 percent in 2024 to 17.3 percent in 2025. Exports to the EU rose 3.0 percent to a record high of $70.1 billion, led by automobiles and ships, with broad- date2026-01-02

Industrial Technology Workforce Reaches 1.74 Million, Posting Growth for a Fourth Consecutive Year

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR, Minister JK Kim) announced the results of the 2025 Survey on Supply and Demand of the Industrial Technology Workforce, which was conducted by the Korea Institute for Advancement of Technology (KIAT) from August 11 to October 24, 2025. The survey covered 21,327 sampled business establishments nationwide with 10 or more employees and collected data on workforce levels and shortages by industry, occupation, and region, as well as recruitment, hiring, and employee separations during 2024. According to the findings, the total industrial technology workforce reached approximately 1.74 million, representing a 1.1 percent increase from 1.72 million in the previous year and marking the fourth consecutive year of growth. Employment in the twelve key industries totaled approximately 1.16 million workers, accounting for 66.6 percent of the overall industrial technology workforce. The semiconductor (up 4.3 percent) and bio-health (up 4.0 percent) industries recorded higher workforce growth than other major sectors. The shipbuilding industry, after experiencing workforce declines for eight consecutive years, has now recorded increases for the second year in a row, reaching 59,213 workers in 2024 (up 1.2 percent). Regionally, the industrial technology workforce in the Seoul metropolitan area has accounted for more than half of the national total since 2023, reaching 50.34 percent in 2024, with concentration in the metropolitan area continuing to intensify. The estimated shortage of industrial technology workers stood at approximately 40,000, representing a 1.6 percent increase from the previous year. Recruitment and hiring of both experienced workers and new entrants were more prevalent among non-metropolitan establishments. In recruitment, non-metropolitan shares stood at 50.1 percent for experienced workers and 57.8 percent for new entrants, while in hiring, the figures rose to 50.3 percent and 58.6 percent, respectively, exceeding those of the metropolitan area. The number of employees leaving their jobs declined year-on-year (down 0.7 percent), and the early turnover rate within one year of employment has continued to fall steadily over the past five years. date2026-01-02

Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo Visits Zhongguancun in Beijing

Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR, Minister JK Kim) visited Zhongguancun, a major hub for advanced technology and innovation, located in Haidian District, Beijing, on Tuesday, December 30, 2025. During the visit, Minister Yeo met with Kim Jong-moon, Head of the Korea Innovation Center (KIC China), and discussed the local startup ecosystem as well as the current status of Korean startups’ entry into the Chinese market. The visit formed part of the government’s efforts to strengthen support for Korean startups seeking to expand into China and to deepen on-the-ground engagement with local innovation ecosystems.    date2026-01-01

Korea–China Trade Ministers’ Meeting

Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR, Minister JK Kim) and Li Chenggang, Vice Minister of Commerce and International Trade Representative of China, held the Korea–China Trade Ministers’ Meeting on Tuesday, December 30, 2025, at China’s Ministry of Commerce. Following opening remarks, the two sides discussed measures to accelerate follow-up negotiations on services and investment under the Korea–China Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and reviewed the status of the FTA’s implementation. The meeting brought together government representatives from Korea and China to exchange views on advancing the implementation of the Korea–China FTA and strengthening bilateral trade cooperation. date2026-01-01

Draft Korean Texts of the Korea–Georgia CEPA and Korea–Malaysia FTA to be Released for Public Comment

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR, Minister JK Kim) announced that it will release the draft English and Korean texts of the Korea–Georgia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), concluded in November 2024, and the Korea–Malaysia Free Trade Agreement (FTA), concluded in October 2025. The texts will be available on the government’s FTA website (www.fta.go.kr) from December 31, 2025, to January 19, 2026, during which the ministry will accept public comments. Public comments will be accepted in accordance with MOTIR’s procedural regulations for drafting Korean translations of trade agreements (MOTIR Directive No. 127) to ensure transparency in the process and enhance the reliability of the translations. In consultation with relevant ministries and experts, MOTIR will review submitted public comments and reflect them as appropriate into the final Korean versions of the texts. Following reviews by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Government Legislation, the agreements will be formally signed after consultations with Georgia and Malaysia, and subsequently submitted to the National Assembly for ratification in accordance with the Trade Treaty Conclusion Procedure Act. date2025-12-31

Number of Middle Market Enterprises in Korea Rises 10.3% Year-on-Year to 6,474

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR, Minister JK Kim) announced on Wednesday, December 31, 2025, the release of the 2024 Basic Statistics on Middle Market Enterprises. The statistics are nationally approved data compiled and released annually since 2015 with approval from Statistics Korea. As of 2024, the number of middle market enterprises in Korea stood at 6,474, an increase of 606 companies (up 10.3 percent) from 2023. During the year, 669 companies exited the middle market category after growing into large enterprises, reverting to SME status, or ceasing operations, while 1,275 companies entered the category after graduating from SME status or being newly established. Middle market enterprises employed a total of 1.76 million workers in 2024, an increase of 53,000 (up 3.1 percent) from the previous year. Employment in the manufacturing sector rose to 687,000 (up 9,000, or 1.3 percent) year-on-year, while employment in the non-manufacturing sector increased by 45,000 (up 4.4 percent) to a total of 1.07 million. Total sales of middle market enterprises in 2024 amounted to KRW 1,030.5 trillion, an increase of KRW 46.2 trillion (up 4.7 percent) from the previous year. Sales increased in both the manufacturing (up 2.5 percent) and non-manufacturing (up 6.9 percent) sectors. Within manufacturing, strong gains were recorded in sectors such as electrical equipment (up 9.9 percent), bio-health (up 7.9 percent), and food and beverages (up 6.2 percent). In the non-manufacturing sector, transportation (up 17.6 percent) and information and communications (up 15.2 percent) also posted robust growth.  Total assets held by middle market enterprises reached KRW 1,322.6 trillion in 2024, an increase of KRW 95.3 trillion (up 7.8 percent) from the previous year. Operating profit totaled KRW 50.3 trillion (up KRW 2.8 trillion, or 5.9 percent) year-on-year. Total investment by middle market enterprises in 2024 amounted to KRW 36.4 trillion, an increase of KRW 5.3 trillion (up 17.1 percent) from the previous year. Of the total, R&D investment reached KRW 13.0 trillion (up 35.2 percent), while facility investment stood at KRW 23.4 trillion (up 8.9 percent). The most common new business areas for middle market enterprises in 2024 were environmentally friendly industries (25.7 percent), advanced bio industries (23.9 percent), and renewable energy (13.9 percent). In addition, 39.3 percent of middle market enterprises had adopted ESG management practices, representing an increase of 5.2 percentage points from the previous year. MOTIR assessed that since the end of the COVID-19 period in 2022, Korea’s middle market enterprises have demonstrated steady growth across all major indicators—including the number of companies, employment, sales, assets, and investment—and noted in particular that the 35.2 percent year-on-year increase in R&D investment underscores the sector’s ongoing efforts to strengthen technological innovation date2025-12-31

Strategic Meeting of the M.AX Alliance for Autonomous Ships

Minister JK (Jung-Kwan) Kim of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR) attended the Strategic Meeting of the M.AX Alliance for Autonomous Ships held at Lotte Hotel Seoul on Monday, December 29, 2025, together with Kim Sung-bum, Acting Minister of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF). The meeting was attended by Lee Sang-kyun, Chairman of the Korea Offshore & Shipbuilding Association (KOSHIPA); Kim Hee-cheul, CEO of Hanwha Ocean; Choi Won-hyok, CEO of HMM; and representatives from shipbuilding and shipping companies, AI firms, universities, and research institutions. In his remarks, Minister Kim of MOTIR stated, “Korea’s shipbuilding and shipping industries have repeatedly demonstrated their ability to weather challenging conditions. As we now face the approaching wave of AI, the industries must come together to turn it into a new growth engine and move toward an even larger future.” He added, “Autonomous ships represent one of the most promising areas for delivering tangible outcomes under the M.AX strategy. By combining Korea’s world-class shipbuilding technologies with AI, we can take the lead in next-generation shipbuilding and shipping markets.” Minister Kim also emphasized, “Working closely with the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, MOTIR will foster autonomous ships as a future growth driver for both industries by linking technology development, data utilization, and the broader industrial ecosystem through the M.AX Alliance.” date2025-12-30

Korea and China Hold Trade Ministers’ Meeting

Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR, Minister JK Kim) and Li Chenggang, Vice Minister of Commerce and International Trade Representative of China, held the Korea–China Trade Ministers’ Meeting on Tuesday, December 30, 2025, at China’s Ministry of Commerce. At the meeting, the two sides discussed ways to accelerate the subsequent negotiations for services and investment under the Korea–China Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and reviewed the status of the FTA’s implementation. To expedite the subsequent negotiations for services and investment, the two sides agreed to regularly convene in-person meetings from 2026 onward, aiming to narrow differences through focused discussions on outstanding issues. They also agreed to hold an additional Trade Ministers’ Meeting in the first half of next year, at which Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo and Representative Li Chenggang will directly review progress in the negotiations and discuss outstanding issues. The discussions further addressed issues related to the implementation of the Korea–China FTA, including those concerning intellectual property rights, the petrochemical sector and government procurement issues. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation based on the FTA framework. Ahead of the Trade Ministers’ Meeting, Trade Minister Yeo met with Korean stakeholders with business operations in China on December 29, 2025, to review major business trends and hear firsthand about challenges faced by stakeholders on the ground. The Trade Minister and the Korean delegation categorized these concerns by sector, distinguishing between issues that can be addressed in the short term and those requiring mid- to long-term consultations, and exchanged views with stakeholders on future support measures. The Stakeholder concerns raised at the meeting were discussed at the Trade Ministers’ Meeting and will also continue to be addressed in the subsequent negotiations and at the Joint Committee and relevant Committees under the Korea-China FTA as FTA implementation issues. Going forward, MOTIR plans to maintain regular communication with stakeholders to ensure that on-the-ground perspectives are incorporated into policy discussions, while strengthening support to stabilize the business environment and enhance market access for Korean stakeholders in China. During the visit, Trade Minister Yeo held separate meetings with high-level officials (minister-level) from the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) and the Development Research Center of the State Council (DRC). The discussions covered changes in the global trade environment, the industrial impact of supply chain restructuring and technological innovation, as well as ways to strengthen Korea–China trade cooperation. The need to maintain sustained policy dialogue channels on shared challenges facing stakeholders in both countries, including environmental and digital transitions, evolving global rules, and enhancing the predictability of trade and investment cooperation was underscored during the meetings. Building on this shared understanding, MOTIR plans to gradually establish a practical foundation for cooperation by expanding policy research collaboration and strengthening industry-level communication. In addition, Trade Minister Yeo visited the Korea Innovation Center (KIC) in Zhongguancun to discuss ways to support Korean startups’ entry into the Chinese market. Trade Minister Yeo also visited GALBOT (Beijing Galaxy General Robot Co., Ltd.), an innovative Chinese robotics company, and met with a top executive to observe how robots are deployed in real production settings for quality control, process automation, and digital transformation. The discussions covered key use cases, on-site demand, potential areas for technological cooperation with Korean compan date2025-12-30

M.AX Alliance for Autonomous Ships Enters Full Operation: MOTIR and MOF Join Hands with Shipbuilding and Shipping Industries in a “2+2 Partnership”

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR, Minister JK Kim) and the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF, Acting Minister Kim Sung-bum) jointly held the Strategic Meeting of the M.AX Alliance for Autonomous Ships on Monday, December 29, 2025, at Lotte Hotel Seoul. The meeting brought together approximately 100 participants from around 50 organizations, including shipbuilders, shipping companies, AI firms such as Naver and KT, universities, and research institutes. The meeting was particularly significant, as it marked the first time that key policymakers and industry leaders from Korea’s shipbuilding and shipping sectors convened to discuss a shared vision for the future of the maritime industry. Official Launch of the M.AX (Manufacturing AX) Alliance for Autonomous Ships Autonomous ships are emerging as a key strategic sector for the global shipbuilding and shipping industries as they confront structural shifts driven by tighter carbon-neutrality regulations, higher maritime safety standards, changes in seafaring workforce structures, and intensifying competition from rival countries. While MOTIR and MOF have made substantial progress under Phase I of the Autonomous Ship Technology Development initiative—including successful trials on international shipping routes—acquiring and sharing real-world demonstration data is now an essential priority for Phase II development. This industry consensus led to the launch of the Alliance, which brings together the shipbuilding, shipping, and AI industries to develop a shared data foundation and establish a cooperative demonstration framework. Securing a larger volume of demonstration data is critical to achieving technological leadership ahead of the establishment of International Maritime Organization (IMO) standards around 2030. At the meeting, the Alliance presented its vision based on three core pillars: Speed, Engagement, and Alliance (S.E.A.). “Speed” reflects the commitment to rapidly develop and demonstrate autonomous ship technologies ahead of international standards. “Engagement” emphasizes the Alliance’s role as an industrial cooperation platform that organically integrates shipbuilding and shipping, large enterprises and SMEs, and the public and private sectors. “Alliance” focuses on shared growth, ensuring that outcomes generated within the Alliance benefit the broader industrial ecosystem. During the event, the Korea Planning and Evaluation Institute of Industrial Technology (KEIT) and the Korea Ocean Business Corporation (KOBC) signed a memorandum of understanding to foster an AI-based autonomous ship ecosystem. By bringing together design and sea-trial data from shipbuilders, operational data accumulated by shipping companies, and algorithmic and data processing capabilities from AI firms, the Alliance will enhance the reliability and technical maturity of AI-enabled autonomous navigation systems. Looking ahead, MOTIR and MOF will launch demonstration projects in 2026 to build the world’s largest public dataset for AI training in autonomous ship technologies, while advancing a project to develop AI-enabled, fully autonomous ships. The Alliance will discuss concrete measures regarding the scope, methods, and targets of data collection, with the outcomes reflected in government-supported programs. The outputs will then be standardized, integrated into platforms, and converted into public datasets for broader industry use. The ministries will continue to support these efforts through data sharing, demonstration support, and regulatory improvements. Full-Scale Cooperation Between Korea’s Shipbuilding and Shipping Industries The Korea Offshore & Shipbuilding Association (KOSHIPA) and the Korea Shipowners’ Association (KSA) signed an agreement to promote shared growth between the shipbuilding and shipping industries. The agreement includes p date2025-12-29