Ministry of Trade Industry and Resources

European Investor Roundtable

Minister JK (Jung-Kwan) Kim of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR) chaired a roundtable with European investors in Brussels, Belgium, on June 10, 2026, during President Lee Jae Myung’s visit to the European Union (EU). The roundtable brought together Kang Kyung-sung, President of the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA); Philippe van Hoof, Chairperson of the European Chamber of Commerce in Korea (ECCK); investment support organizations; and representatives from European companies and research institutes working in materials, parts, and equipment for advanced industries, quantum computing, and other promising fields. Participants discussed future investment cooperation between Korea and Europe. Minister Kim said Korea’s advanced industry supply chains and AI ecosystem will continue to create new opportunities for European companies, and that the government will support investment by improving incentives, regulations, and the investment process. date2026-06-11

Investment Declaration Ceremony with European High-Tech Companies

Minister JK (Jung-Kwan) Kim of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR) received investment declarations from four European high-tech companies in Brussels, Belgium, on June 10, 2026, during President Lee Jae Myung’s visit to the European Union (EU). The four companies are Germany’s advanced materials company Orafol, France’s Quandela, Dutch company Prodrive Technologies, and Sweden’s Mycronic. Together, they reported USD 165 million in foreign direct investment in Korea across advanced materials, photonic quantum computing, advanced industry equipment modules, and display and semiconductor equipment technologies. Minister Kim said Korea’s advanced industry supply chains and AI ecosystem will continue to create new opportunities for cooperation with European companies, and that the government will support foreign investment by improving incentives, regulations, and the investment process. date2026-06-11

MOTIR Shapes Blueprint for 5+3 Regional Growth Engines

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR, Minister JK Kim) held the Growth Engine Strategy Forum for the Five Mega-Regions and Three Special Self-Governing Provinces (5+3) framework on June 10, 2026, at the Artificial Intelligence Industry Cluster Agency (AICA) in Gwangju. Chaired by Vice Minister Moon Shin-hak, the forum brought together about 100 regional industry stakeholders from Gwangju and Jeonnam, including local government officials and representatives of anchor companies and regional innovation institutions. The forum gathered views on industries proposed by local governments in each region as regional growth engines under the framework. Participants discussed each region’s industrial conditions and growth potential and explored development approaches tailored to regional strengths. Beginning with the forum for the Southwest region, MOTIR plans to hold similar forums across all regions covered by the framework, excluding the Seoul metropolitan area. Under the framework, the regional growth engine initiative positions each growth engine as a core industry for its region and supports balanced national growth through a more polycentric industrial structure. MOTIR plans to work closely with local governments to facilitate large-scale investment by anchor companies. The government also plans to draw on policy tools across ministries and provide substantial incentives for major regional investment projects through a seven-part support package covering fiscal support, financing, workforce development, infrastructure, and regulatory exemptions. At the forum, experts from the Korea Institute for Industrial Economics & Trade (KIET) presented an analysis of the industries that local governments submitted as candidate growth engines. Participants examined each industry in detail, including regional industrial conditions, corporate investment plans, future growth potential, and alignment with Korea’s national industrial strategy. The Gwangju Institute also presented its assessment of the Southwest region’s industrial landscape and development priorities, followed by a discussion on industrial development priorities for Gwangju and Jeonnam from a regional expert perspective. In a panel discussion moderated by Professor Na Ju-mong, President of the Korean Association of Regional Policy (KARP), panelists from anchor companies, local governments, and regional innovation institutions discussed proposals for developing Gwangju and Jeonnam’s growth engine industries. Kim Hee-sam, Vice President at Kia Corporation, said, “Kia plans to continue investing in its Gwangju Plant as part of the regional growth engine initiative. Policy and financial support from the government will be needed to strengthen the automotive industry ecosystem in the Southwest region.” Kim Young-moon, Gwangju’s Deputy Mayor for Culture and Economy, said, “Gwangju will continue strengthening communication and cooperation between the central and local governments to support the success of these growth engines.” In his opening remarks, Vice Minister Moon said, “This forum will mark the first step in reshaping the geography of Korea’s industrial growth around a polycentric structure built on the Five Mega-Regions and Three Special Self-Governing Provinces.” He added, “MOTIR will identify and develop high-potential growth engines that build on each region’s strengths. We will use every available policy tool to help each region build a self-sustaining, competitive industrial ecosystem.” After consulting regions under the framework, MOTIR plans to select growth engines for each region and announce a seven-part policy support package to develop them into globally competitive industries. The package will cover fiscal support, tax incentives, financing, workforce development, technology support, infrastructure, and regulatory exemptions. date2026-06-10

Growth Engine Strategy Forum for Five Mega-Regions and Three Special Self-Governing Provinces

Vice Minister Moon Shin-hak of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR) attended the Growth Engine Strategy Forum for the Five Mega-Regions and Three Special Self-Governing Provinces on June 10, 2026, at the Artificial Intelligence Industry Cluster Agency (AICA) in Gwangju. The forum brought together about 100 regional industry stakeholders from Gwangju and Jeonnam, including representatives from the Korea Institute for Advancement of Technology (KIAT), the Korea Institute for Industrial Economics & Trade (KIET), local governments, regional anchor companies, and regional innovation institutions. Participants gathered views on regional growth engines and discussed development approaches tailored to each region’s strengths. Vice Minister Moon said MOTIR will identify and develop high-potential growth engines that build on each region’s strengths and use all available policy tools to help each region build a self-sustaining, competitive industrial ecosystem. date2026-06-10

MOTIR Reviews Economic Cooperation Projects with Uzbekistan Ahead of 1st Korea-Central Asia Summit 2026

Bae Jun-hyoung, Director General of MOTIR’s Bureau of International Trade Relations, visited Tashkent, Uzbekistan, and met with Uzbek government officials, including deputy ministers of the Ministry of Investment, Industry and Trade of Uzbekistan and the Chair of the Fund for Reconstruction and Development of the Republic of Uzbekistan (UFRD). He also held a roundtable with Korean companies operating in Uzbekistan. The visit took place ahead of the 1st Korea-Central Asia Summit, scheduled for Seoul in September 2026, to review key bilateral economic cooperation projects and discuss ways to address business concerns raised by Korean companies operating in Uzbekistan. During the meeting, Director General Bae discussed expanding cooperation with his Uzbek counterparts in critical minerals, AI and digital manufacturing, and industrial complexes. He also requested their continued attention and cooperation to help ensure that bilateral supply chain and advanced industry projects move forward smoothly. Director General Bae also held a luncheon roundtable with Korean companies operating in Uzbekistan. He heard their concerns over investment, permits and approvals, and infrastructure, and exchanged views on ways to help them maintain stable operations and improve the investment environment. date2026-06-09

Meeting with Kazakhstan’s Minister of Energy

Minister JK (Jung-Kwan) Kim of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR) met with Yerlan Akkenzhenov, Kazakhstan’s Minister of Energy, at the Ministry of Energy in Astana, Kazakhstan, on June 8, 2026, on the sidelines of the 11th Korea-Kazakhstan Joint Committee on Trade, Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation. The two sides discussed stabilizing crude oil supply and cooperation on critical minerals and plant projects. The meeting followed the Joint Committee, where Korea and Kazakhstan discussed cooperation across trade and investment, energy and resources, construction, digital affairs and intellectual property, and the environment. date2026-06-09

Signing Ceremony for the Agreed Minutes of the 11th Korea-Kazakhstan Joint Committee on Trade, Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation

Minister JK (Jung-Kwan) Kim of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR) attended the signing ceremony for the agreed minutes of the 11th Korea-Kazakhstan Joint Committee on Trade, Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation at the Rixos Hotel in Astana, Kazakhstan, on June 8, 2026. The ceremony was attended by government delegations from both countries, including Nagaspayev Yersaiyn Kairgazievich, Kazakhstan’s Minister of Industry and Construction. Minister Kim said Korea and Kazakhstan are expanding cooperation beyond existing areas such as resources, energy, and plant projects into digital and green sectors, and will use the first Korea-Central Asia Summit in September 2026 as an opportunity to further strengthen bilateral economic cooperation. date2026-06-09

Meeting with Serbian Prime Minister Đuro Macut

Minister for Trade Yeo Han-koo of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR, Minister JK Kim) met with Serbian Prime Minister Đuro Macut in Belgrade, Serbia, on June 5, 2026, during his visit for the signing ceremony marking the conclusion of negotiations for the Korea–Serbia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). date2026-06-09

Roundtable with Korean Companies Operating in Serbia

Minister for Trade Yeo Han-koo of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR, Minister JK Kim) chaired a roundtable with representatives and officials from Korean companies operating in Serbia, including Yura Corporation, Kyungshin Cable, and Hyundai Engineering, in Belgrade, Serbia, on June 5, 2026, during his visit for the signing ceremony marking the conclusion of negotiations for the Korea–Serbia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). At the roundtable, Minister Yeo delivered opening remarks and heard about company-specific on-the-ground difficulties. The meeting also introduced the expected export-expansion effects for major items following the conclusion of the Korea–Serbia CEPA. Minister Yeo said the government will move forward with the necessary follow-up procedures without delay so that businesses and citizens in both countries can begin to experience the benefits of the agreement as soon as possible. date2026-06-09

Meeting with Aramco Downstream President

Vice Minister Moon Shin-hak of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR, Minister JK Kim) met with Mohammed Y. Al Qahtani, Downstream President of Aramco, Saudi Arabia’s state-owned oil company, at Mugunghwa Hall of Government Complex Seoul on June 5, 2026. The two sides discussed how to strengthen medium- and long-term resource security cooperation, including stable supplies of crude oil and naphtha, and expand cooperation on plant construction projects. date2026-06-08