Ministry of Trade Industry and Resources

Korea Set to Localize 30% of CNC Systems by 2032

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE, Minister Ahn Duk-geun) announced on June 18, 2025, that KCNC succeeded in developing a Korean-made computerized numerical control (CNC) systems, a core technology used in the majority of Korea’s machinery and equipment processing.  CNC utilizes computerized systems to precisely control machining processes such as cutting, milling, and pressing, and is mainly installed in manufacturing equipment for producing machinery. While CNC is a key component of the machinery industry, developing the system is technically demanding, and companies in Germany, Japan, and the U.S. account for more than 80 percent of the global CNC market. With KCNC’s successful development of a CNC system, the industry is anticipating the Korean-made CNC systems to capture at least 30 percent of the domestic market by 2032. The plans to develop CNC began emerging in earnest in  2019, when materials, parts, and equipment (MPE) supply chains started gaining recognition for their importance. The plans were also triggered by concerns that any disruption in CNC supply— the entirety of which Korea was dependent on imports—may halt production lines nationwide across the manufacturing sector. CNC development calls for simultaneous advances in various hardware and software technologies, including the controller’s main body, motor, and interface, making it difficult for any single company to take on the project alone. Accordingly, MOTIE launched a consortium led by the Korea Institute of Machinery & Materials, bringing together more than 20 companies, research institutes, and academic experts. Participants later established KCNC in the form of a joint venture for technological development and commercialization. After five years of development, field operators and experts conducted an objective evaluation in May 2025, in which they found that the developed CNC system has reached performance levels comparable to that of other advanced countries in key performance indices, such as machining error and surface quality. However, improvements are still needed in areas such as interface user friendliness and range of functions offered. Korea currently relies on imports for 95 percent of its CNC supply, and even the remaining five percent of domestic products require foreign technology for core components. The newly developed CNC system is expected to substantially stabilize supply chains for Korean manufacturers and generate significant economic benefits. Replacing 30 percent of domestic and overseas CNC demand with Korean-made products is expected to create an annual economic value of around KRW 200 billion, equivalent to approximately USD 146 million. Swift after-sales service and customized product development are some added merits of the localization. Starting July, KCNC will enter a one-year demonstration phase for commercialization. The tests will cover high-speed and repetitive procedures, machining with various materials and tools, equipment durability, and reliability in real-world production. Four major buyer companies, which account for over 90 percent of CNC systems demand, are to participate in the demonstration process. These companies have already submitted letters of intent indicating that they will sign purchase agreements if demonstration results meet the specifications. Once the demonstration phase is completed successfully, the Korean-made CNC systems will be up for purchase beginning in 2026, with relevant industries forecasting that the systems will secure over 30 percent in domestic market share by 2032. date2025-06-18

Eco-friendly auto sales surpass conventional cars in May

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) announced today that Korea’s domestic automobile sales for the month of May 2025 increased 0.4 percent year-on-year to 141,865 units.  Eco-friendly vehicles took up 52 percent of total domestic automobile sales, surpassing the sales of internal combustion engine cars for the first time. The number of Korean electric vehicles (EVs) sold in the domestic market also soared 58.8 percent, thanks to the wider array of consumer choices with the recent rollout of new models across different car segments. Monthly automobile exports reached $6.2 billion, entering the $6 billion thresholds for the fourth consecutive month and recording second highest in exports for May. Eco-friendly vehicle exports hit an all-time high of 75,184 units (up 10.2 percent), driven by solid demand for hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs). Meanwhile, domestic automobile production declined 3.7 percent to 358,969 units.   date2025-06-17

Korea and Netherlands launch Future Chips Academy 2025

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE, Minister Ahn Duk-geun) and the Korea Institute for Advancement of Technology (KIAT) will launch the Korea-Netherlands Future Chips Academy 2025 on June 16–20, 2025, in the Netherlands to promote bilateral exchange in fostering high-level talent in advanced semiconductors. Now in its second year, the Future Chips Academy is a joint Korea-Netherlands education program based on the two countries’ semiconductor business cooperation and is designed to cultivate highly-level global talents in advanced semiconductor technologies. This year, 50 master’s and doctoral students from six semiconductor-specialized graduate schools in Korea will visit leading Dutch institutions and companies such as ASML, NXP Semiconductors, imec the Netherlands (IMEC), and Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e), where they will take part in various programs such as lectures and a team project challenge. The program is expected to help Korean researchers deepen their understanding of the latest advanced chip technology trends and further strengthen Korea’s semiconductor R&D capacity. This year’s Future Chips Academy includes in-depth discussions on research cooperation and educational approaches between Korea and the Netherlands under the theme of future semiconductors. Expert lectures at local companies are also scheduled on topics including patterning technology and automotive chips. On the final day, students will consolidate what they have learned through the team project challenge and propose creative ideas for semiconductor technology development. In the coming months of July and August 2025, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) and the Korea Semiconductor Academy are slated to engage in exchange programs with the Netherlands’ Eindhoven University of Technology and Delft University of Technology, respectively. In September 2025, 30 outstanding graduates of the Korea Semiconductor Academy will also take part in a five-day education program in the Netherlands, giving them an opportunity to build practical knowledge and broaden their perspective. date2025-06-16

Korea’s ICT exports climb 9.6% in May

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) and the Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT) announced today that Korea’s exports and imports of information and communications technology (ICT) goods for the month of May 2025 advanced 9.6 percent and 0.5 percent year-on-year, respectively, to USD 20.9 billion and $11.5 billion. The trade balance stood at a surplus of $9.4 billion. It is significant that ICT exports reached record highs for the month in spite of recent global trade uncertainties. By item, exports of semiconductors (up 21.2 percent), mobile phones (up 2.8 percent), computers/peripherals (up 1.7 percent), and communication devices (up 10.2 percent) achieved gains, whereas those of displays declined (down 17.5 percent). Semiconductor exports rose as fixed prices of major items like DRAMs and NAND flash rebounded and high value-added memory chips like HBMs and DDR5s retained strong growth momentum. Mobile phones expanded on the backs of demand for finished smartphone products and computers/peripherals increased in step with revived demand for solid-state drives (SSDs). Exports of communication devices were driven by rising demand for automotive communication systems in the U.S. and 5G equipment in India. In contrast, displays were negatively affected by trade uncertainties and sluggish global demand. By region, Korea’s May ICT exports increased to destinations like the U.S. (up 7.2 percent), Vietnam (up 15.7 percent), EU (up 1.5 percent), and Japan (up 12.5 percent), while those to China (including Hong Kong) (down 6.8 percent) contracted. Meanwhile, the uptick in ICT imports was led by items like computers/peripherals (up 37.4 percent), powered by AI-driven demand for datacenter GPUs (up 51.1 percent) as well as midrange and mainframe computers (up 130 percent).   date2025-06-12

Seoul International Forum on Trade Remedies 2025

Vice Minister Sungtaek Park attended the Seoul International Forum on Trade Remedies 2025 on June 10 at COEX in Seoul, held with the participation of 150 persons composed of representatives and experts of trade remedies institutions from 11 economies around the world, including the U.S., EU, China, and Japan, as well as the WTO. Vice Minister Park gave a congratulatory message, stating that in view of the increasing trade uncertainties, it is time that the international community join efforts for wisdom and cooperation. He also expressed hopes that the Seoul Forum will continue to serve as a platform facilitating international cooperation by catalyzing the development of global trade remedies systems. date2025-06-11

Seoul Food 2025 takes off at KINTEX

Deputy Minister for International Trade and Investment Park Jung-sung attended Seoul Food 2025 on June 10 at KINTEX in Ilsan, held with the participation of 1,639 food companies from 45 countries and gave a congratulatory address and toured the major booths with KOTRA President Kang Kyung-sung and KINTEX President Lee Jae-yul. date2025-06-11

Korea Trade Commission holds Seoul International Forum on Trade Remedies 2025

The Korea Trade Commission (KTC) under the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE, Minister Ahn Duk-geun) held the Seoul International Forum on Trade Remedies 2025 (“Seoul Forum 2025”) on June 10, 2025, at COEX in Seoul. Now in its 23rd year since the initial launch in 2001, Seoul Forum is the world’s only international forum dedicated to trade remedies. This year’s event brought together 150 participants, including representatives and experts from 11 trade remedies institutions around the world, including the U.S., EU, China, and Japan, as well as the World Trade Organization (WTO). The first and second session were held under theme of “Supply Chain Realignment and the New Challenge Facing Trade Remedies Institutions” and “Recent Trends in Trade Remedy Investigations: Cases and Tasks,” respectively, and consisted of presentations and panel discussions among trade remedy institutions from different countries. In addition, a technical committee meeting and a conference for the heads of trade remedy authorities served as platforms for cooperation, sharing policies, and practical investigation experiences. This year’s forum also marked a notable rise in its international standing, with participating countries holding 29 bilateral meetings on the sidelines. The main event itself drew the attendance of a large number of high-level officials including Frédéric Seppey, Chairperson of the Canadian International Trade Tribunal (CITT), and David Latina, Australia’s Anti-Dumping Commissioner. Participants at the forum shared the view that  trade remedies are a key tool for upholding a fair trade order amid supply chain shifts and uncertainties across the global trade landscape. They also noted a common trend across various countries toward reforming their trade systems and strengthening institutional capacity as investigations become more complex due to factors such as global oversupply and circumvention. The KTC has received five anti-dumping investigation petitions in the first quarter of 2025 alone, already reaching half of last year’s total of 10, the highest annual figure in the last 20 years. By May 2025, the KTC has also submitted a total of eight proposals, including provisional measures, for anti-dumping duties on steel and petrochemical products for which dumped imports were found to have caused injury on domestic industries. The above outcomes are a result of the organizational expansion and restructuring efforts that the KTC carried out in March 2025, aiming to enhance its timely responses to domestic industrial injury caused by low-priced imports and to strengthen trade defense mechanisms. date2025-06-10

Seoul Food 2025 Kicks Off at Record Scale

Korea’s Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE, Minister Ahn Duk-geun) and the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA) announced that the Seoul International Food Industry Exhibition 2025 (Seoul Food 2025) will be held on June 10–13, 2025, at the Korea International Exhibition Center (KINTEX) in Ilsan. Launched in 1983, Seoul Food is now in its 43rd year and is Korea’s largest food exhibition and the fourth largest in Asia. This year’s event has drawn a record of 1,639 food businesses from 45 countries, while the number of overseas buyers participating in the trade consultations program has increased 20 percent year-on-year to 300. The growing popularity of K-food across  Southeast Asia and the U.S. has attracted a substantial number of major buyers, and this year’s trade consultations are estimated to generate export deals worth approximately USD 250 million, up 25 percent from 2024. Meanwhile, global experts will present and discuss various issues at the 9th Global Food Trends & Tech Conference, covering recent global food industry trends such as meat alternatives, low-sugar products, future food technology, AI, robots, and digital food technology. In addition, a score of leading businesses in the areas of meat alternatives, food tech, and convenience meals will be recognized at  the 10th Seoul Food Awards program for their achievements, while exclusive promotion booths will be set up to support exports of their quality food items. Another special feature of Seoul Food 2025 is the participation of influencers and content creators from Korea, China, Vietnam, and Japan, who will help sell and promote food products through digital platforms, expanding beyond conventional retail channels. In conjunction with Seoul Food 2025, Korea’s Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs (MAFRA) is hosting a one-on-one trade consultation program to support market diversification for competitive SMEs and middle-market companies.  Buyers from emerging markets such as Chile, Guatemala, and Laos will be introduced to Korea’s top export items, including kimchi, red ginseng, and yuja preserves, with the aim of generating tangible outcomes such as MOUs and trade deals to help companies break into new markets. Furthermore, the National Food Cluster pavilion will return for the second consecutive year to support exhibitions, tasting events, and buyer consultations for 48 promising food companies. date2025-06-10

Korea’s exports decline 1.3% in May

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) announced on June 1 that Korea’s exports and imports for the month of May 2025 decreased 1.3 percent and 5.3 percent year-on-year, respectively, to USD 57.3 billion and $50.3 billion. The trade balance stood at a surplus of $6.9 billion.   Accounting for the number of working days, the daily average export value rose 1.0 percent to this year’s all-time high of $2.7 billion. Five out of Korea’s 15 major export items advanced in May. Semiconductors hit a new high for the month with $13.8 billion (up 21.2 percent) as fixed prices rose alongside strong demand for high value-added memory chips like HBMs and DDR5s. Wireless communication exports maintained an upward trajectory for the fourth consecutive month, climbing 3.9 percent to $1.3 billion on the backs of the robust performance of smartphones (up 30.0 percent to $0.4 billion). Computers, including solid-state drive (SSDs), increased 2.3 percent to $1.1 billion, turning to an expansion. Bio-health exports (up 4.5 percent to $1.4 billion) increased for the fourth consecutive month, driven by the solid growth of biopharmaceuticals (up 13.7 percent to $0.9 billion). Ship exports gained 4.3 percent to $2.2 billion, growing for the third month straight. Korea’s total automobile exports entered the $6 billion thresholds for the fourth consecutive month, thanks to demand for EVs and secondhand cars (up 71.0 percent to $0.7 billion) in the EU market.  In addition to the leading 15 items, Korea’s agricultural food products (up 5.5 percent to $1.0 billion) and cosmetics (up 9.3 percent to $1.0 billion) both reached historic highs for May and electric machinery (up 0.1 percent to $1.3 billion) improved for the fourth consecutive month. By region, Korea’s May exports expanded to two out of nine major destinations. To China, exports dropped 8.4 percent to $10.4 billion as those of semiconductors and petrochemicals receded. U.S.-bound exports fell 8.1 percent to $10.0 billion as a result of a plunge in automobile exports, despite the growth of wireless communications devices, petroleum products, and secondary batteries. Exports to ASEAN shrank 1.3 percent to $10.0 billion in spite of the double-digit growth of semiconductor exports, as petroleum products and petrochemicals took a sharp dive.  Exports to the EU (up 4.0 percent to $6.0 billion) were led by automobiles and semiconductors, gaining for the third consecutive month. Those to CIS countries surged 34.7 percent to $1.2 billion. Korea’s energy imports for May diminished 12.8 percent to $10.2 billion, owing to lower imports of crude oil and gas. Non-energy imports decreased 3.2 percent to $40.2 billion.   date2025-06-02

Minister Ahn Holds Talks with U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources

Minister Ahn Duk-geun of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) met with members of the U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources on May 30, 2025, in Seoul to discuss Korea-U.S. cooperation in energy and critical minerals. The U.S. delegation was led by Committee Chairman and U.S. Representative Bruce Westerman (R-AR), and also included Representatives Nick Begich (R-AK), Harriet Hageman (R-WY), Celeste Maloy (R-UT), and Sarah Elfreth (D-MD). During the talks, Minister Ahn emphasized the need to strengthen Korea-U.S. energy cooperation and to stabilize critical mineral supply chains in light of rising global energy demand and supply chain uncertainties. He also called for close attention to ensure that recent U.S. tariff measures do not undermine the two countries’ close industrial and energy cooperation, and proposed to continue consultations on strengthening bilateral energy cooperation to resolve energy security and trade imbalance issues. Referring to the budget reconciliation bill that recently passed the U.S. House of Representatives, Minister Ahn underscored the need for policy continuity, whether through Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) tax credits or comparable support, to ensure stability for Korean companies investing in the U.S. He also called for congressional interest and support to invigorate bilateral trade and investment. date2025-05-30