Ministry of Trade Industry and Resources

Korea Reappointed to ISO Technical Management Board

The Korean Agency for Technology and Standards (KATS, President Kim Dae-ja) under the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources announced that Korea has been reappointed to the Technical Management Board (TMB) of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) at the 47th ISO General Assembly, held in Kigali, Rwanda, from October 6 to 10, 2025. As a result, Korea will continue serving as a TMB member through 2028, with Professor Moon Young-Jun of KAIST representing the country in shaping ISO’s technical policy decisions. The TMB is ISO’s key decision-making body that oversees the organization’s standardization activities, including the establishment and dissolution of technical committees, coordination among committees, and appointment of committee chairs. Korea’s reappointment reflects continued international recognition of its standardization capabilities. At the General Assembly, Korea also proposed establishing a new ISO technical committee on GPS-based personal location service technologies and hosted a workshop to build support among ISO member countries. Additionally, Korea signed MOUs with standardization organizations in countries such as Canada and Italy, and invited key stakeholders to attend the upcoming International AI Standards Summit scheduled for December 2025. KATS President Kim Dae-ja stated, “With this reappointment to the ISO Technical Management Board, Korea has further solidified its influence in the field of international standardization. We will continue to demonstrate leadership within ISO and strengthen our position as a trusted leader in global standardization.” date2025-10-13

Korea Ramps Up AI Factories to Lead Global Manufacturing by 2030

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR, Minister JK Kim) held the AI Factory M.AX Alliance Strategy Meeting on October 1, 2025, bringing together leading manufacturers such as Samsung Electronics, Hyundai Motor, LG Energy Solution, and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries to position Korea as a global leader in manufacturing AI by 2030. The number of pilot projects under the AI Factory initiative has surpassed 100, with a target of 500 by 2030. These projects integrate AI into manufacturing processes to boost productivity, reduce costs, and cut carbon emissions. Examples include Samsung Electronics using AI for semiconductor inspections, Hyundai Motor deploying AI-powered robotic arms for flexible production, and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries developing AI robots for ship maintenance. Humanoid robots will also begin field trials this year at six sites across the display, shipbuilding, and logistics sectors. Companies including Samsung Display, CJ Logistics, LG Electronics, and SK Energy will test robots for various tasks, with more than 100 projects planned by 2027 to collect field data and advance AI development. MOTIR will further expand the initiative to cover the entire production cycle, from factory design to supply chains and logistics. By integrating robotics, digital twins, and advanced infrastructure, Korea aims to establish fully autonomous “dark factories” and become the world’s leading exporter of AI factories by 2030. Minister JK (Jung-Kwan) Kim emphasized, “The AI era is a race against time. By leveraging Korea’s manufacturing strengths and data, we can lead the world in AI factories. Through the M.AX Alliance, we will break down regulatory barriers, focus resources, and secure Korea’s global leadership in manufacturing AI.” date2025-10-02

Korea and UK Discuss Trade Cooperation Amid Global Trade Shifts

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR, Minister JK Kim) announced that Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo held a video conference on October 1, 2025, with Chris Bryant, the UK Minister of State at the Department for Business and Trade, following Minister Bryant’s request for an introductory meeting. The two sides exchanged views on expanding bilateral cooperation and addressing major trade issues under the current uncertain global trade landscape. The UK is Korea’s sixth-largest trading partner in Europe, with bilateral trade reaching USD 11.21 billion in 2024 under the Korea–UK FTA signed after Brexit. The UK also ranks as Korea’s third-largest European investor (cumulative as of 2024), with active mutual investment serving as a key driver of economic growth in both countries. Trade Minister Yeo congratulated Minister Bryant on his appointment and expressed hope for close communication amid the uncertain global trade environment. He also discussed ways to balance both sides’ core interests to expedite the conclusion of the Korea–UK FTA upgrade negotiations, and exchanged views on the UK’s trade issues, including recent trade and large-scale investment agreements with the US. Trade Minister Yeo further emphasized the need for measures to ease corporate burdens, such as adjusting reporting cycles, in relation to the UK’s introduction of a carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM). He conveyed the Korean industry’s concerns and requests regarding the UK’s strengthened steel safeguard measures and electric vehicle subsidy program, and called for cooperation and support from the UK government, along with continued bilateral consultations. date2025-10-02

Korea to Strengthen R&D Support System for Global Foreign-Invested Enterprises

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR, Minister JK Kim) announced that it held the second Korea–Global Innovation Investment Alliance on Wednesday, October 1, 2025, at the Toray Advanced Materials Korea Magok R&D Center. The meeting brought together foreign-invested enterprises (FIEs) newly joining the 2025 R&D program, along with Korean public research institutes and investment associations, to strengthen the R&D support system for FIEs. To promote R&D by FIEs in Korea, MOTIR launched the Global Industry–Technology Cooperation R&D Program in 2024 and has steadily expanded its budget (KRW 1.5 billion in 2024 → KRW 4.5 billion in 2025 → KRW 6 billion proposed for 2026). The ministry also plans to diversify the scale and types of support to improve the quality of R&D outcomes. In addition to FIEs and public institutions, the meeting included public research institutes and investment-related associations. Through additional R&D investment by FIEs (KRW 25 billion), technology development support, and investor relations (IR) activities, the Alliance will actively support SMEs participating in these projects to enter global supply chains. At the meeting, an MOU was also signed among participating FIEs, research institutes, universities, and industry partners to strengthen cooperation. Key areas include policy measures to expand investment by selected FIEs, stronger R&D collaboration with Korean research institutes, and support for IR activities by Korean SMEs. The initiative aims to encourage the inflow of leading global technologies into Korea and broaden participation in the innovation ecosystem. Yoo Beop-min, Director-General for Investment Policy at MOTIR, stated, “The government will continue to expand R&D support for foreign-invested enterprises to help Korea become a global R&D hub and to revitalize regional economies, boost domestic employment, and foster shared growth between global and Korean companies amid global supply chain restructuring.” date2025-10-02

Korea’s Exports Hit Record High in September

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR) announced on October 1 that Korea’s exports in September 2025 rose 12.7 percent year-on-year to USD 66.0 billion, while imports increased 8.2 percent to $56.4 billion. The trade balance posted a surplus of $9.6 billion, the largest in seven years since September 2018. Exports reached an all-time monthly high for the first time in three and a half years, continuing growth for the fourth consecutive month. Third-quarter exports also set a record at $185.0 billion, averaging over $60.0 billion per month. On a daily average basis, exports came to $2.8 billion, the second-highest September figure on record, reflecting the impact of more working days. By item, 10 of Korea’s 15 major export categories posted growth. Semiconductor exports jumped 22.0 percent to $16.6 billion, hitting a new record for the second straight month on strong demand for high-value memory such as HBM and DDR5. Automobile exports rose 16.8 percent to $6.4 billion, the highest ever for September, supported by robust sales of electric, hybrid, and internal combustion vehicles, as well as a sharp increase in used car exports. Ship exports grew 21.9 percent to $2.9 billion, marking seven straight months of growth. Biohealth exports also reached a record high of $1.7 billion (up 35.8 percent). By region, exports increased in eight of Korea’s nine major markets. Exports to China rose 0.5 percent to $11.7 billion, ending a four-month decline. Exports to ASEAN climbed 17.8 percent to $11.1 billion, the highest ever for September, while exports to the EU surged 19.3 percent to $7.2 billion, also a record high. Exports to the Middle East, India, Latin America, Japan, and CIS countries all posted strong growth, while exports to the United States fell 1.4 percent to $10.3 billion due to slower shipments amid tariff-related conditions. MOTIR Minister Kim Jung-kwan stated, “Korea’s exports set a new all-time record in September, a valuable achievement despite difficult conditions such as slower shipments to the U.S. amid tariff-related challenges. This demonstrates the ability of Korean companies to quickly diversify their export markets.” He added, “Facing persistent uncertainties, including ongoing tariff negotiations, the government will continue to strengthen policy support to ensure our companies sustain their export competitiveness.”   date2025-10-01

Korea and Uzbekistan Sign MOU to Strengthen Cooperation on Technical Regulations

The Korean Agency for Technology and Standards (KATS, President Kim Dae-ja) under the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on September 30, 2025, with the Uzbek Agency for Technical Regulation (Director Akmal Jumanazarov) to strengthen cooperation on technical regulations. The MOU formalizes bilateral cooperation on information exchange and issue resolution related to technical regulations, aimed at easing technical barriers to trade (TBT) and supporting mutual market entry. This marks a significant step forward from the previous practice of relying only on case-by-case consultations. Uzbekistan ranked fourth last year in terms of technical regulation-related difficulties faced by Korean companies. As a non-WTO member and a country without a free trade agreement (FTA) with Korea, Uzbekistan has lacked an official negotiation channel, leaving companies dependent on individual consultations. For example, in March 2025, exports of home appliances faced customs delays due to requirements for “certification by container,” but the issue was resolved through bilateral consultations by adopting a representative model sampling inspection method. Under the MOU, the two countries will operate an annual joint expert working group with both government and private-sector participation to discuss regulatory issues, focusing on major export items such as textiles and home appliances, and to develop concrete cooperation measures. A business roundtable was also held with participation from Korean companies such as Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics, where they discussed local regulatory trends, shared challenges, and explored countermeasures. KATS President Kim Dae-ja stated, “This MOU will strengthen Korea–Uzbekistan cooperation on technical regulations, helping to reduce procedural uncertainties and export hurdles for Korean companies. Through regular consultation channels, we will respond more swiftly to local regulations, support business activities, and contribute to enhancing trade and industrial competitiveness.” date2025-09-30

End-Users, Fabless Firms, and Foundries Join Forces to Build Korea’s On-Device AI Semiconductor Ecosystem

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE, Minister JK Kim) hosted a forum on September 30, 2025, at the Seongnam Global Convergence Center, bringing together semiconductor end-user and supplier companies as the first step in launching the K-On-Device AI Semiconductor Technology Development Project—a core initiative of the AI Semiconductor M.AX Alliance. The Alliance was established to help Korea emerge as a global leader in manufacturing AX (advanced transformation) by 2030. The forum brought together approximately 150 stakeholders from across the AI semiconductor industry, including end-user companies in the automobile, IoT/appliance, machinery/robotics, and defense sectors; Korean fabless companies (design) and foundries (manufacturing); and global IP firms that supply semiconductor design blocks. The program featured technology demonstrations by fabless firms such as DEEPX, Mobilint, and FuriosaAI; a presentation on the project implementation plan by MOTIE; the signing of MOUs among MOTIE, end-users, fabless firms, foundries, and IP firms; and a discussion led by end-users, Arm, and Samsung Foundry on how to foster Korea’s AI semiconductor ecosystem. Overview of the AI Semiconductor M.AX Alliance Forum  Date/Location: Tuesday, September 30, 2025, 15:00–17:30 / Seongnam Global Convergence Center (1F, Multipurpose Hall 2) Hosted/Organized by: MOTIE / Korea Semiconductor Industry Association, Korea Planning & Evaluation Institute of Industrial Technology (KEIT) Participants: Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy and about 150 representatives from industry, academia, and research, including semiconductor end-users, foundries, and fabless firms  Program: AI semiconductor fabless technology demonstrations, presentation of the project implementation plan, signing of an MOU to ensure project success, and discussions on ways to strengthen Korea’s AI semiconductor ecosystem Background and Implementation Plan for the Project To become a global leader in manufacturing AX, developing AI models is important, but it is equally essential to develop on-device AI semiconductors—the hardware that powers AI within advanced products across industries. To this end, MOTIE is supporting the development of Korean on-device AI semiconductors for integration into advanced products such as autonomous vehicles, smart home appliances, humanoids, and unmanned aerial vehicles through close partnership with end-user companies in four key sectors and Korean fabless firms. In August, a KRW 1 trillion project to develop customized AI semiconductors, AI software, and modules needed for producing advanced products in four key industries was exempted from the preliminary feasibility study. Following a formal review, MOTIE plans to launch the project in 2026 through consortia of end-user and fabless companies. The project aims to release Korean-made AI semiconductor prototypes in 2028 and develop 10 types of on-device AI semiconductors for integration into advanced products by 2030. Scope of the K-On-Device AI Semiconductor Technology Development Project  On-Device AI Semiconductor Full Stack: Development and demonstration of customized on-device AI semiconductors, AI software, modules, and prototypes Application in Advanced Products: Autonomous vehicles, smart home appliances, unmanned aerial vehicles, collaborative robots, humanoids, unmanned agricultural robots Implementation Plan: (2026) Formation of sector-specific consortia and project announcement → Begin AI semiconductor design (2027–2028) Production and verification of AI semiconductor prototypes (2029) Development of modules to be integrated into advanced products using AI semiconductors (2030) Development of advanced prototypes such as autonomous vehicles and humanoids equipped with Korean-made AI semiconductors Operation of the AI Semiconductor M.AX Alliance The Alliance wil date2025-09-30

3rd Industrial Convergence Regulatory Special Case Review Committee

Kim Jung-kwan, Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy, attended the 3rd Industrial Convergence Regulatory Special Case Review Committee held at the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Jung-gu, Seoul, on Thursday, September 25, 2025.  The meeting was attended by government and private committee members, as well as representatives of applicant companies. Before the session, Minister Kim observed a demonstration of AeiROBOT’s AI-powered bipedal humanoid robot.  The committee then deliberated on and approved 40 regulatory sandbox projects in areas including AI, robotics, and energy.   date2025-09-29

13th East Asia Summit (EAS) Economic Ministers’ Meeting

Yeo Han-koo, Minister for Trade at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE), attended the 13th East Asia Summit (EAS) Economic Ministers’ Meeting held at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre in Malaysia on Thursday, September 25, 2025.  The meeting brought together economic ministers from 18 countries, including ASEAN member states such as Malaysia, Indonesia, and Singapore, as well as the United States, China, and Japan.  Minister Yeo emphasized the need to focus discussions on practical areas such as open plurilateralism and called for active participation and engagement of EAS members in the upcoming APEC Summit.   date2025-09-29

MOTIE Minister Conducts Emergency Inspection of Response System for Information System Disruptions

On September 28, 2025, Minister JK (Jung-Kwan) Kim of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) assessed the damage to MOTIE’s information systems caused by the fire at the National Information Resources Service and discussed key response measures and plans. The meeting focused on ensuring uninterrupted public services—such as strategic goods export reviews, applications for investigations into unfair trade practices, and applications for electricity business licenses—that were expected to be affected by the disruptions. For services that cannot be processed online due to the outage, applications, such as licenses, will be accepted manually. Results will be notified by mail or fax, and application status may be checked via telephone or related agency websites. For strategic goods export reviews, temporary public application and processing methods will be posted on the Korea Security Agency of Trade and Industry (KOSTI) website (kosti.or.kr), and guidance emails will be sent to all Yestrade members (about 50,000 companies). Applications for determinations and export licenses will temporarily be accepted by email, and MOTIE will expand review personnel to minimize delays caused by offline processing. Applications and investigation notices for unfair trade practice cases will be handled in writing, and closure notices will be sent by fax or mail. Mining rights permit applications will be processed manually after being submitted by visit or fax, with applicants notified accordingly by phone. Electricity business licenses will be processed through phone guidance and in-person submission, and results will be announced on the Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) and Korea Power Exchange websites. In connection with this, MOTIE will post contact information for each service area on its social media channels, including Instagram, X, and YouTube, so that the public can contact the relevant offices directly. Immediately after the incident on September 26, 2026, MOTIE organized an emergency response team, headed by Deputy Minister for Planning and Coordination, and activated a 24-hour emergency duty system. The ministry is also using its official blog and social media channels to promptly share updates on the disruption, while providing the main service hotline (1577-0900) and direct contact numbers for affected services to minimize public inconvenience and potential damages. A full review of MOTIE’s information systems revealed that 21 systems—11 public services and 10 internal systems—including the ministry’s main website and those of many affiliated agencies, were inaccessible or not functioning. The Korean Standards & Certification Information System is currently operating through an alternative page offering equivalent services.   Minister Kim also ordered a comprehensive review of ongoing project notices and announcements to prepare for the possibility of a prolonged system recovery, and decided to extend application deadlines and notice periods as needed. Before the damage assessment meeting, Minister Kim visited the KTNET Electronic Trade Control Center to examine its operations. He emphasized the need to prevent internet service disruptions, ensure swift responses in the event of incidents, strengthen cybersecurity and personal data protection, and guarantee the reliable operation of information networks to minimize public inconvenience during government system outages. date2025-09-29