Ministry of Trade Industry and Resources

190th CEO Forum for Mid-Sized Enterprises

Kim Jung-kwan, Minister of Trade, Industry and Resources, attended the 190th CEO Forum for Mid-Sized Enterprises held at the Grand Hyatt Seoul in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, on Monday, November 3, 2025. The event was attended by around 100 participants, including Choi Jin-shik, Chairman of the Federation of Middle Market Enterprises of Korea, as well as CEOs and executives from mid-sized enterprises. Minister Kim delivered a keynote speech on the theme “The New Age of Exploration.” date2025-11-05

17th Chemical Industry Day Ceremony

Vice Minister Moon Shin-hak of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources attended the 17th Chemical Industry Day ceremony held at The Plaza Hotel in Jung-gu, Seoul, on Friday, October 31, 2025. The event brought together Korea Chemical Industry Association Chairman Shin Hak-cheol, along with representatives from related companies, petrochemical industry professionals, and award recipients. After delivering congratulatory remarks, Vice Minister Moon presented a total of 42 government commendations, including the Silver Tower Order of Industrial Service Merit awarded to Kumho Petrochemical CEO Baek Jong-hoon for his contributions to the advancement of Korea’s chemical industry. date2025-11-05

5th Battery Industry Day Ceremony

Vice Minister Moon Shin-hak of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources attended the 5th Battery Industry Day ceremony held at Josun Palace Seoul in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, on Thursday, October 30, 2025.    The event was attended by People Power Party lawmaker Kim Sung-won; Kim Dong-myung, Chairman of the Korea Battery Industry Association and CEO of LG Energy Solution; and Choi Joong-kyung, Chairman of the Korea–America Association, as well as representatives from related organizations, companies, and battery industry awardees.    Following his congratulatory remarks, Vice Minister Moon presented 20 government commendations to individuals who contributed to the advancement of the battery industry, including the Silver Tower Order of Industrial Service Merit awarded to Park Zin, Executive Vice President of Samsung SDI. date2025-11-05

Invest KOREA Conference

Vice Minister Moon Shin-hak of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources attended the Invest KOREA Conference held on Thursday, October 30, 2025, at the Grand InterContinental Seoul Parnas in Gangnam-gu, Seoul.    The event brought together Invest KOREA CEO Kim Tae Hyung, along with representatives from government agencies, local governments, 300 foreign investors and media outlets, leading Korean and global companies, foreign chambers of commerce, and embassies.    Vice Minister Moon delivered congratulatory remarks at the event date2025-11-05

MOTIR and The Korea Society Explore Ways to Strengthen Korea–U.S. Cooperation

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR, Minister JK Kim) announced that Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo met with Thomas Byrne, President of The Korea Society, in Seoul on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, to exchange views on ways to enhance Korea–U.S. economic cooperation. Established in 1957, The Korea Society is a U.S. nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting mutual understanding and cooperation between Korea and the United States through a wide range of policy forums, seminars, and educational programs across politics, economics, culture, and education. Trade Minister Yeo highlighted that Korea has been actively supporting the revitalization of U.S. manufacturing and job creation through large-scale greenfield investments, and has established itself as a major importer of U.S. energy and agricultural products such as LNG and crude oil. He underscored the close trade and investment ties between both countries and noted that implementing the USD 150 billion in direct investment plans announced by Korean companies in August 2025, along with the USD 350 billion strategic investment MOU reached as part of the Korea–U.S. tariff negotiations on October 29, 2025, would further strengthen bilateral industrial supply chains. Trade Minister Yeo also conveyed Korean companies’ concerns over the recent detention of Korean workers at a plant in Georgia, urging President Byrne to help ensure that such incidents do not recur. He requested The Korea Society’s support in developing fundamental solutions, emphasizing the need to ensure smooth entry and stable investment conditions for Korean business personnel in the short term, and to establish a new visa category in the longer term. date2025-11-04

Governments and Industry Leaders from Six Major Semiconductor-Producing Economies Gather in Busan

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR, Minister JK Kim) announced that the 26th Government/Authorities Meeting on Semiconductors (GAMS) will be held in Busan from Tuesday, November 4 to Thursday, November 6, 2025. Korea will chair this year’s meeting, presided over by Choi Woo-hyuk, Director General for Advanced Industry Policy at MOTIR. The meeting will bring together around 100 participants, including director-general–level officials and industry leaders from member economies. Overview of GAMS Established in 1999 based on a joint statement by the four founding members—Korea, the United States, Japan, and the European Union—GAMS later added Taiwan (2000) and China (2006) as associate members. The annual meeting rotates among member economies and reviews the outcomes and policy recommendations of the World Semiconductor Council (WSC), which represents the global semiconductor industry, and discusses relevant government policy responses. GAMS sessions begin with reports from the WSC on its activities and policy proposals, followed by intergovernmental consultations and the adoption of a Chair’s Statement. This year, the WSC has proposed major agenda items including semiconductor policy trends, environmental protection (PFAS regulations and greenhouse gas reduction efforts), HS code revisions for semiconductor products, and intellectual property protection. During the three-day event, the six participating economies will also hold bilateral meetings to exchange views on key semiconductor issues and conduct in-depth discussions on other related matters. In his keynote address, Director General Choi stated, “With the rapid development of artificial intelligence driving a sharp increase in global semiconductor demand, ensuring a stable semiconductor supply chain has become more critical than ever.” He added, “As a leading semiconductor-producing country, Korea will demonstrate strong leadership as this year’s GAMS chair to promote close cooperation among major economies.” date2025-11-04

Korea to Lead Development of International Standards for Core Equipment Used in Eco-Friendly Fuel Ships

Korea will take the lead in developing international standards to ensure the safety and efficiency of equipment used in eco-friendly fuel ships powered by ammonia and hydrogen. The Korean Agency for Technology and Standards (KATS, President Kim Dae-ja) under the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR) announced that it will propose two new international standards at the ISO/TC 8/SC 3 Piping and Machinery Subcommittee Meeting being held in Busan from November 3 to 6, 2025. Global shipbuilders are developing vessels powered by eco-friendly fuels such as ammonia and hydrogen in response to greenhouse gas reduction regulations set by the International Maritime Organization (IMO). Building on its strengths in the shipbuilding sector, Korea is leading efforts to standardize core equipment for eco-friendly fuel ships. At this meeting, KATS plans to propose international standards for “Test Procedures for Valves and Heat Exchangers for Ammonia-Fueled Ships.” Once adopted, the proposed international standards for these core components are expected to significantly strengthen Korea’s global competitiveness in the ammonia-fueled ship sector, which remains at an early stage of commercialization. Korean marine equipment manufacturers will continue developing international standards for key components of eco-friendly fuel ships, including piping systems and storage tanks. KATS President Kim Dae-ja stated, “It is highly meaningful for Korea to lead the development of core technology standards for future vessels in line with the global push for carbon neutrality. We will continue to strengthen Korea’s standardization capabilities in eco-friendly alternative fuel ship technology to support the competitiveness of our shipbuilding and marine equipment industries in the global market.” date2025-11-04

MOTIR Minister Stresses Urgency of AI Transformation to Boost Competitiveness of Mid-Sized Enterprises

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR) announced that Minister JK (Jung-Kwan) Kim delivered a keynote speech at the “CEO Forum for Mid-Sized Enterprises” hosted by the Federation of Middle Market Enterprises of Korea (FOMEK, Chairman Choi Jin-shik) on Monday, November 3, 2025, at the Grand Hyatt Seoul. The event was attended by around 100 CEOs from Korea’s mid-sized enterprises. In his speech, titled “The New Age of Exploration,” Minister Kim stated, “Just as the invention of the compass in the 15th century ushered in the Age of Exploration and reshaped global wealth and power, Korean companies must now seize a new compass—artificial intelligence (AI)—to chart new routes in the global market.” He emphasized that mid-sized enterprises, the backbone of the Korean economy and industry, must play an active role in the industrial AI transformation. In response, the mid-sized enterprise community agreed that accelerating industrial AI adoption is essential for business survival and growth. Representatives from mid-sized enterprises also highlighted challenges in responding to rapid changes such as AI transformation, the green transition, and supply chain realignments driven by recent tariff measures. They requested stronger policy support across global expansion, technology development, finance, taxation, human resources, and regulatory reform. Minister Kim affirmed that the government will work closely with relevant ministries to provide comprehensive support to help mid-sized enterprises grow into larger, globally competitive companies. date2025-11-04

Korea’s Exports Hit New Peak for October

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR, Minister JK Kim) announced on November 1 that Korea’s exports in October 2025 rose 3.6 percent year-on-year to USD 59.6 billion, the highest on record for October, while imports fell 1.5 percent to $53.5 billion. The trade surplus stood at $6.1 billion, bringing the cumulative surplus for January–October to $56.4 billion and surpassing the total for 2024. Despite fewer working days during the Chuseok holiday, exports grew for the fifth consecutive month, and average daily exports climbed 14 percent to $3.0 billion, reaching an all-time high. Semiconductor exports increased 25.4 percent to $15.7 billion, driven by strong demand for high-value memory such as HBM and DDR5. Ship exports, including offshore plants, soared 131.2 percent to $4.7 billion, while petroleum product exports rose 12.7 percent to $3.8 billion. By region, exports to Latin America nearly doubled (up 99 percent) to $4.7 billion—a record level led by large offshore plant deliveries—and exports to the CIS climbed 34.4 percent to $1.3 billion, marking eight straight months of growth. Exports to the United States declined 16.2 percent to $8.7 billion due to tariff-related challenges, while exports to China and ASEAN also fell slightly. Exports to Taiwan jumped 46 percent to a record $5.2 billion on strong semiconductor demand. MOTIR Minister Kim Jung-kwan stated, “Semiconductors and ships drove export growth for the fifth consecutive month. With the recent Korea-U.S. agreement on detailed tariff negotiations, Korea’s key export items—including automobiles, semiconductors, and pharmaceuticals—will no longer face disadvantages in the U.S. market. The government will ensure that this agreement and related financial measures create new growth opportunities for Korean industries.”   date2025-11-03

Korea Honors Contributors and Organizations on the 55th National Metrology Day

The Korean Agency for Technology and Standards (KATS, President Kim Dae-ja), under the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR), held a ceremony on Friday, October 31, 2025, to commemorate the 55th National Metrology Day and presented 35 awards to individuals and organizations that have contributed to strengthening Korea’s national competitiveness in metrology. At the ceremony, Nam Gi-dong, CEO of DYC&T, received the Bronze Tower Order of Industrial Service Merit in recognition of his contribution to industrial advancement for developing Korea’s first 30 MN-class high-capacity force measuring instrument. Dr. Kwon Jae-Yong of the Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science (KRISS) received a Presidential Commendation for his achievement in developing a world-class primary standard for electromagnetic power. In addition, the first Legal Metrology Idea Contest was held this year, with six outstanding entries selected from 92 submissions, raising public interest and participation in the metrology sector. A pre-event seminar themed “AI and the Future of Industrial Metrology” featured the Vice Chair of China’s Digital Metrology Technology Committee, who shared policy trends in AI and industrial metrology. Korean experts from industry, academia, and research institutions also gathered to discuss the importance of metrology in the AI era and strategies for its future development. In his congratulatory remarks, KATS President Kim Dae-ja stated, “In advanced industries, ensuring accuracy through metrology is directly linked to national industrial competitiveness. KATS will continue to strengthen the foundation of advanced industries such as AI and semiconductors by improving metrology infrastructure and systems, while identifying and supporting contributors and organizations that advance industrial measurement technology.” date2025-10-31