Ministry of Trade Industry and Resources

Promising Materials, Parts, and Equipment Firms Climb the Growth Ladder Through Global Investment

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR, Minister JK Kim) held the Global Investor IR Day event on Tuesday, November 25, 2025, at The Westin Seoul Parnas. The event brought together around 150 participants, including representatives from eight domestic and global investment institutions—such as LB Investment and Korea Investment Partners—as well as 94 Korean materials, parts, and equipment (MPE) companies. Overview of Global Investor IR Day Date and Venue: Tuesday, November 25, 2025, 10:30–16:30 / LL Floor, The Westin Seoul Parnas Key Participants: MOTIR Director General for Trade and Investment; Park Ki-ho, Chairman of the Korea Core Industrial Technology Investment Association; eight domestic and global investors, including LB Investment, Korea Investment Partners, IMM Investment, Woori Venture Partners, SBI Investment, TEL VC, STIC Ventures, and NAU IB Capital; and 94 Korean MPE companies including PLAIF and Sealink, totaling approximately 150 participants Program: Investment-strategy presentations by participating institutions and one-on-one pitching sessions between domestic and global investors and Korean companies The event was organized to support promising Korean MPE companies—many of which possess strong technological capabilities but face difficulties securing capital—by facilitating investment matching with domestic and global private equity funds, venture capital firms, and other private investors. The first Global Investor IR Day, held on October 31, 2025, alongside the Invest KOREA Summit 2025, resulted in USD 50 million in matched investment commitments for six Korean MPE firms. MOTIR has steadily strengthened its policy foundation through support for technology development and commercialization, and this event serves as a practical support program that directly connects private capital with innovative companies, helping to bridge the funding gap for growth-stage firms. Notably, the event drew strong investor interest in leading MPE technology companies such as PLAIF, an AI-powered autonomous dual-arm robot-solutions company participating in the K-Humanoid Alliance aimed at commercializing Korean humanoid robots, and Sealink, which developed an eco-friendly sealing device for semiconductor equipment through a MOTIR R&D project—challenging the paradigm in a field previously dominated by Japanese companies. During the event, investors shared their investment strategies, focus areas, and market outlooks, and held one-on-one meetings to conduct in-depth reviews of each company’s technological capabilities, market potential, business models, and revenue prospects. They also agreed to continue follow-up discussions with the companies after the event to build ongoing relationships. In his congratulatory remarks, Kang Gam-chan, Director General for Trade and Investment at MOTIR, stated, “For growth-stage companies, securing timely capital for R&D, facility investment, and overseas expansion is absolutely critical. The government will continue working to ensure that companies that have achieved technological innovation through national R&D programs, as well as promising firms that play key roles in supply chains, can obtain the financing they need at each stage of their growth.” date2025-11-25

MOTIR and SNU Sign MOU to Strengthen M.AX Alliance Cooperation

Minister Kim Jung-kwan of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR) attended the signing ceremony for the “MOU on M.AX Alliance Cooperation between MOTIR and Seoul National University,” held at Seoul National University on November 24. The ceremony was joined by SNU President Ryu Hong-lim and heads of related research institutes. Participants discussed cooperation in manufacturing AI, data utilization, and talent development under the M.AX Alliance. Minister Kim emphasized that the combination of the Alliance’s world-class manufacturing capabilities with SNU’s creative research and outstanding talent will accelerate Korea’s vision of becoming a global leader in Manufacturing AX. date2025-11-25

Meeting with the Deputy Minister of Industry and New Technologies of the Republic of Tajikistan

Park Jung-sung, Deputy Minister for Trade at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources, met with Nazar Aziz Savzali, Deputy Minister of Industry and New Technologies of the Republic of Tajikistan, on November 24 at the Korea Trade Insurance Corporation in Seoul to discuss expanding bilateral economic cooperation in trade and investment, development cooperation (ODA), and critical mineral supply chains. The Tajik delegation also included Abdugaffor Jamolzoda, Deputy Director of the Export Agency, and Shamsullo Khairullozoda, Deputy Minister of Finance. Deputy Minister Park said, “Tajikistan is one of Korea’s key economic partners in Central Asia. We will continue to advance bilateral cooperation through various policy initiatives in areas such as trade, investment, and development cooperation.” date2025-11-25

Global Investor IR Day Held in Seoul

Kang Gam-chan, Director General for Trade and Investment at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR), delivered congratulatory remarks at the Global Investor IR Day held on Tuesday, November 25, at The Westin Seoul Parnas. The event brought together around 150 participants, including Park Ki-ho, Chairman of the Korea Core Industrial Technology Investment Association; domestic and global investors such as LB Investment and Korea Investment Partners; and representatives from Korean materials, parts, and equipment (MPE) companies. In his congratulatory remarks, Director General Kang emphasized the importance of securing timely capital for growth-stage companies, noting that the government will continue providing financing for companies with technological innovation obtained through national R&D programs, as well as promising firms that play a key role in supply chains. date2025-11-25

SNU and M.AX Alliance to Jointly Develop AI Models for Humanoids, Autonomous Vehicles, and AI Factories

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR, Minister JK Kim) and Seoul National University (SNU, President Ryu Hong-lim) signed an MOU on November 24, 2025, to strengthen cooperation between SNU and the M.AX Alliance. Launched by MOTIR and the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) in September 2025, the M.AX Alliance includes more than 1,000 participating organizations, including Samsung Electronics, Hyundai Motor Company, and Rainbow Robotics. MOTIR previously announced that through the Alliance, the government aims to innovate manufacturing processes and foster new industries such as humanoids, generating more than KRW 100 trillion in added value by 2030 and positioning Korea as a global leader in Manufacturing AX. SNU to Fully Participate in the M.AX Alliance With this MOU, SNU is expected to begin fully participating in the M.AX Alliance’s core programs, particularly in AI model development, manufacturing data utilization, and talent development. ❶ SNU will jointly develop AI models for humanoids, autonomous vehicles, and AI factories with manufacturing companies in the Alliance. The companies will provide SNU with the data and platforms—including robots, vehicles, and factories—needed for developing AI models in each field. The developed AI models will then be supplied back to the companies for integration into their products and factories. MOTIR recently launched related R&D projects to support this initiative. ❷ SNU and the M.AX Alliance will cooperate on manufacturing data utilization. The two will develop a plan by early 2026 for the joint use of manufacturing data secured through their respective R&D activities and projects such as the AI Factory. The plan will outline methods for preprocessing, standardizing, and anonymizing data for use in AI model development and demonstration. To support this, MOTIR will develop and implement a program in 2026 to establish and operate a manufacturing data repository. ❸ SNU and the Alliance will also work closely on talent development. MOTIR will leverage industry–academia cooperation projects and talent development programs to create opportunities for outstanding SNU students to participate in Alliance activities. Under the MOU, the SNU Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation will select promising students and provide them with opportunities to participate in R&D projects and internship programs within the Alliance. Next Steps Following the MOU, SNU and MOTIR will expand discussions through one-on-one collaboration between SNU’s six specialized research institutes and corresponding M.AX Alliance subcommittees. Minister JK (Jung-Kwan) Kim stated, “Once the world-class manufacturing capabilities of M.AX Alliance companies combine with SNU’s creative research and outstanding talent, the vision of becoming the world’s leading Manufacturing AX nation will be well within reach.” date2025-11-24

Korea and Tajikistan Discuss Expanding Economic Cooperation

Park Jung-sung, Deputy Minister for Trade at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR, Minister JK Kim), met with Nazar Aziz Savzali, Deputy Minister of Industry and New Technologies of the Republic of Tajikistan, on November 24, 2025, at the Korea Trade Insurance Corporation in Seoul to discuss expanding bilateral economic cooperation in trade and investment, official development assistance (ODA), and critical mineral supply chains. The Tajik delegation also included Abdugaffor Jamolzoda, Deputy Director of the Export Agency, and Shamsullo Khairullozoda, Deputy Minister of Finance. During the meeting, the two sides noted the steady growth in bilateral trade but agreed on the need to diversify exports beyond automobiles. They also discussed expanding industrial cooperation through MOTIR’s ODA programs in areas such as textiles and solar power, as well as strengthening cooperation on critical mineral supply chains in Tajikistan.  The Tajik delegation expressed interest in benchmarking Korea’s export promotion and industrial site development policies to expand bilateral trade and investment, and requested more active communication, including the sharing of best practices. The Korean side agreed on the importance of strengthening exchanges and cooperation. Deputy Minister Park said, “Tajikistan is one of Korea’s key economic partners in Central Asia. We will continue to advance bilateral cooperation through various policy initiatives in areas such as trade, investment, and development cooperation.” date2025-11-24

Groundbreaking Ceremony for Amkor Korea’s New Test Facility in Incheon

Kang Gam-chan, Director General for Trade and Investment at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources, attended the groundbreaking ceremony for Amkor Korea’s new test facility at the company’s Songdo site in Incheon on Wednesday, November 19.   He joined Kevin Engel, COO of Amkor Technology; Yun Won-sok, Commissioner of the Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority; and representatives from partner companies including Samsung Electronics for the groundbreaking performance, and then toured the facility.   In his congratulatory remarks, Director General Kang expressed gratitude for Amkor’s decision to invest in Korea despite intensifying global competition in the semiconductor sector. He added that the Korean government will work to ensure that investment commitments made during APEC proceed without delay by expanding cash-grant support, strengthening location and tax incentives, and improving regulatory frameworks. date2025-11-21

Korea Sets New January–October Auto Export Record

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR, Minister JK Kim) announced on November 20 that Korea’s cumulative automobile exports for January–October 2025 reached an all-time high of USD 59.6 billion, driven by strong eco-friendly vehicle performance. However, automobile exports in October, as well as domestic sales and production, declined year-on-year due to a reduction in working days. October automobile exports fell 10.5 percent year-on-year to $5.6 billion. Despite the shorter working period, eco-friendly vehicle exports rose 2.3 percent to $2.0 billion, supported by a 13.4 percent increase in hybrid-vehicle shipments, which offset a 7.3 percent decline in electric-vehicle (EV) exports. Domestic automobile sales decreased 12.8 percent year-on-year to 127,000 units. EV sales rose 56.1 percent, and hydrogen-vehicle sales surged 140.2 percent, continuing their recovery trend. Domestic EV sales had already set a new annual record in September, and this figure is expected to continue rising through year-end. Sales of imported vehicles also increased, driven by strong EV demand and a base effect from weak sales in October last year. Automobile production in October declined 17.6 percent year-on-year to 303,000 units, reflecting the overall reduction in working days. date2025-11-20

Public-Private Meeting on Strengthening Responses to Trade Barriers

Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR) delivered opening remarks while presiding over the Public-Private Meeting on Strengthening Responses to Trade Barriers held on Tuesday, November 18, at the Korea International Trade Association (KITA) conference room in Seoul.   The meeting brought together KOTRA, KITA, the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Korea Iron & Steel Association, and representatives from relevant ministries, agencies, and industry associations to review Korea’s overall trade barrier response system and discuss improvement measures in depth. Trade Minister Yeo noted that the conclusion of the Korea–U.S. tariff negotiations comes amid a structural shift in the global trade environment, and stressed that MOTIR will lead a more assertive trade policy response while supporting the overseas expansion of K-beauty and K-fashion companies. MOTIR also announced that it will work jointly with relevant ministries and agencies to publish the Korean version of the National Trade Estimate (NTE) Report in the first half of next year. date2025-11-20

Amkor Korea Launches Investment in High-Tech Semiconductor Packaging and Testing

Kang Gam-chan, Director General for Trade and Investment at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR, Minister JK Kim), attended the groundbreaking ceremony for Amkor Technology Korea’s new semiconductor test facility in Songdo, Incheon, on Wednesday, November 19, 2025.  Amkor Technology traces its origins to Anam Industrial, Korea’s first company to enter the semiconductor industry in 1968. After overcoming the 1997 Asian financial crisis through investment from the U.S., the company has grown into a leading global specialist in semiconductor packaging and testing technologies. Amkor Korea plans to build three production lines and install new equipment to secure mass-production packaging capabilities and testing technologies for AI semiconductors. The company also aims to expand cooperation with domestic semiconductor materials, parts, and equipment suppliers to strengthen Korea’s AI semiconductor ecosystem. This groundbreaking is particularly meaningful as it represents a tangible outcome less than one month after global companies announced investment plans at the “Global Investor Partnership” event during APEC 2025 on October 29. Following the Songdo facility expansion, Amkor Technology plans to pursue additional investment in its packaging plant in Gwangju, contributing to balanced regional development. In his congratulatory remarks, Director General Kang thanked Amkor for its bold decision to invest in Korea amid intensifying global competition for semiconductor leadership. He stated, “We hope Amkor Korea’s investment will signal further investment expansion by global companies in Korea.” He emphasized that “the Korean government will ensure that the investment commitments made by global companies during APEC are implemented smoothly by expanding cash-grant support, strengthening location and taxation incentives, and improving regulatory frameworks.” date2025-11-20