Ministry of Trade Industry and Resources

Korea, Vietnam Hold First Export Control Dialogue to Strengthen Supply Chain Stability and Support for Korean Companies in Vietnam

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR, Minister JK Kim) will hold the inaugural Korea–Vietnam Export Control Dialogue with Vietnam’s Ministry of Industry and Trade in Seoul on September 11, 2026. The dialogue is significant as it marks the start of a regular director-general-level channel for cooperation between the two countries’ export control authorities. Vietnam introduced its export control system in October 2025 and began implementing it in June 2026. As Vietnam is a major supply chain partner for Korea and many Korean companies operate there, Korean businesses have a strong interest in the country’s export control system and a clear need to respond to its requirements. Against this backdrop, MOTIR signed an MOU on export control cooperation with Vietnam’s Ministry of Industry and Trade in Hanoi on April 23, under which the two authorities agreed to establish a regular consultation mechanism and share information. The dialogue will be held as part of bilateral cooperation under the MOU.  Kim Tae-woo, Director General for Trade Security Policy at MOTIR, and Nguyen Anh Son, Director General of the Agency of Foreign Trade at Vietnam’s Ministry of Industry and Trade, will serve as the chief representatives of Korea and Vietnam, respectively. The two sides will exchange information on key export control issues and discuss matters of mutual interest in depth. Korea will also share its experience and practical know-how in operating an export control system aligned with international standards and convey the concerns of Korean companies operating in Vietnam. The dialogue will be held in conjunction with a training program in Korea for Vietnamese export control officials. From September 8 to 11, 2026, the Vietnamese delegation will complete four days of specialized training and visit sites in Korea, including Incheon Regional Customs and Samsung Electronics, an exemplary company under Korea’s Compliance Program (CP). “As Vietnam is a key supply chain partner for Korea, we will continue to strengthen bilateral export control cooperation to support the stability of advanced industrial ecosystems,” said Director General Kim. “We will continue to share Korea’s advanced export control expertise and strengthen tailored local support so Korean companies can respond quickly and smoothly to the new regulatory environment.” date2026-09-11

K-Shipbuilding Advances Together Through Shared Growth

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR, Minister JK Kim) held the 23rd Shipbuilding and Marine Day ceremony in Seoul on September 10, 2026. The event brought together around 250 participants, including Vice Minister Moon Shin-hak of MOTIR; Lee Sang-kyun, Chairman of the Korea Offshore & Shipbuilding Association (KOSHIPA); and other representatives from the shipbuilding and marine industries. At the ceremony, 35 individuals received government awards and ministerial commendations, including the Silver Tower Order of Industrial Service Merit, for their contributions to advancing the shipbuilding and marine industry. Notably, Park Tae-soo, CEO of DOOWON HIGHSTEEL, received the Silver Tower Order of Industrial Service Merit, becoming the first government award recipient from a shipbuilding equipment company in more than a decade. A financial institution official who has supported the issuance of refund guarantees (RGs) for small and medium-sized shipbuilders also received a Prime Minister’s Commendation. The awards highlighted contributions not only from shipyards but also from across the broader shipbuilding ecosystem that supports them. In his congratulatory remarks, Vice Minister Moon noted K-shipbuilding’s USD 32 billion in exports over the past year—the highest in eight years—its continued global lead in LNG carriers, and MASGA’s move into full-scale implementation, including the opening of the Korea–U.S. Shipbuilding Partnership Center, and thanked the industry for its role in these achievements. “No ship can be built by a shipyard alone,” Vice Minister Moon said. He stressed that K-shipbuilding’s competitiveness lies in the strength of the entire value chain spanning steel, equipment, shipping and finance, then outlined three policy directions for shared growth across the ecosystem. First, the government will promote shared growth between shipbuilding and its upstream and downstream industries, including steel and shipping. It will take an active role in developing measures for shared growth between the shipbuilding and steel industries. To help equipment suppliers establish the onboard installation track record needed for exports, the government plans to support the installation of Korean equipment on newbuild vessels ordered by Korean shipping companies. Through the Council for Shared Growth in Shipbuilding and Shipping, co-chaired by the ministers of MOTIR and the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF), the government will also discuss ways to generate orders, including joint orders by Korean shipping companies and priority orders for public vessels. Second, the government will promote shared growth among large shipbuilders, small and medium-sized shipbuilders, and partner companies. It will expand the M.AX Alliance for Autonomous Ships, which has focused on autonomous navigation, to cover shipyard manufacturing sites and reorganize it as the AI Shipbuilding Alliance. The government will also help disseminate technologies proven by large shipbuilders to partner companies and small and medium-sized shipbuilders. To support small and medium-sized shipbuilders as their exports increase, the government plans to work with relevant ministries and financial institutions to facilitate the issuance of RGs for these shipbuilders. Third, the government will promote shared growth in overseas markets. In implementing the MASGA project, it will focus on identifying project opportunities for shipbuilding equipment suppliers and small and medium-sized shipbuilders. The government will also continue to strengthen MRO capabilities among small and medium-sized shipbuilders and support U.S. market entry by equipment suppliers. The Korea–U.S. Shipbuilding Partnership Center, which opened in Washington, D.C., in late July, will also support small and medium-sized shipbuilders and equipment suppliers in developing sales channels in the U.S. m date2026-09-10

MOTIR Connects Leading Middle Market Enterprises with Young Job Seekers to Support 5+3 Growth Engines

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR, Minister JK Kim) held the Middle Market Enterprise Job Fair in Daejeon on September 8, 2026. The fair was organized to foster shared growth in the region by connecting young talent with regional middle market enterprises facing recruitment difficulties. It also aimed to help middle market enterprises grow to play a central role in regional economies and support the development of growth engines under the Five Mega-Regions and Three Special Self-Governing Provinces (5+3) initiative. The event drew 66 leading middle market enterprises and prospective middle market enterprises—including YC Corporation and Nepes Ark in semiconductors, Hanmi Pharmaceutical and Huons Group in biopharmaceuticals, and SIMPAC in machinery—and more than 2,000 job seekers. The 12 previous fairs have helped more than 9,000 people find jobs, and this year’s first- and second-half fairs are expected to connect more than 2,000 job seekers with job opportunities. Beginning this year, the government expanded eligibility for the Youth Job Leap Incentive beyond SMEs to include middle market enterprises outside the capital region. The measure is intended to ease workforce shortages at leading middle market enterprises in the regions and encourage young people to find work there. The government is also increasing the number of industrial technical personnel allocated to each middle market enterprise from two to five. Furthermore, it will continue to support middle market enterprises’ recruitment of young people with master’s or doctoral degrees and experienced technical professionals. Lee Gyu-bong, Director General for Middle Market Enterprise Policy at MOTIR, said at the opening ceremony, “Middle market enterprises account for just 1.5 percent of all companies in Korea but 13.9 percent of total employment, while providing quality jobs. In particular, I expect them, as a core force behind the regional growth engines under the 5+3 initiative, to continue driving regional economic growth and job creation.” He added, “MOTIR plans to announce its Middle Market Enterprise Growth Ladder 2030 strategy by the end of the year and put in place a systematic framework to support the growth of middle market enterprises.” date2026-09-08

Korea and France Establish Strategic Framework for Cooperation Across Industry, Trade and Supply Chains

During President Lee Jae Myung’s visit to France, Minister JK (Jung-Kwan) Kim of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR) met with Roland Lescure, France’s Minister for the Economy, Finance and Industrial, Energy and Digital Sovereignty, in Paris on September 7, 2026. The two ministers laid the institutional groundwork to take bilateral cooperation in industry, trade and supply chains to a new level. Korea–France Ministerial Meeting on Economic and Industrial Affairs The key outcome of the meeting was an agreement to establish the Korea–France Strategic Industrial Dialogue, a ministerial-level consultation channel between the two key ministries responsible for industrial policy. Korea and France will use the dialogue for regular discussions on industrial and trade policy and establish sector-specific working groups to discuss specific issues and cooperation projects in depth. The new dialogue is significant in that it provides a framework for bilateral cooperation across a broad range of industrial and trade issues, including industrial policy, industrial technology, trade and investment, supply chains and economic security, and critical minerals. Minister Kim also urged France to address key trade issues facing Korean companies in France. In particular, he requested improvements to France’s electric vehicle subsidy scheme to ensure that Korean-made EVs are not placed at a disadvantage. The two sides agreed to continue consultations on the issue through working-level groups and other channels. Minister Kim also welcomed the EU’s intention, reflected in the Industrial Accelerator Act (IAA), to extend benefits to its key partner countries. He asked for France’s close attention and support so that Korea, as a trusted key industrial partner of the EU, can receive treatment equivalent to that accorded to EU member states. “With the establishment of the ministerial-level Strategic Industrial Dialogue, Korea and France now have a standing framework for regular consultations that goes beyond addressing individual issues and covers industrial policy, trade and investment, supply chains and economic security,” Minister Kim said. “We will make full use of the new ministerial dialogue and sector-specific working groups to address trade-related difficulties facing Korean companies while continuing to identify new cooperation projects in advanced industries and supply chains.” KOTRA–Business France MOU The two countries also took steps to strengthen the basis for trade and investment cooperation at the business level. In the presence of both ministers, the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA) and Business France signed an MOU on business cooperation. The two organizations will expand cooperation by jointly holding trade and investment seminars and supporting startups seeking to enter the other country’s market. They will also strengthen their role as effective communication channels for identifying and addressing difficulties faced by Korean and French companies operating in the other country. Meeting with Air Liquide CEO Minister Kim also met separately with François Jackow, CEO of Air Liquide, a French global industrial gas company, to discuss expanding the company’s investment in Korea. Air Liquide completed its acquisition of DIG Airgas in January 2026 and is expanding its business in Korea. During the meeting, Jackow said the company plans to finalize the details of a new investment plan in the near future. Minister Kim welcomed Air Liquide’s continued investment in Korea and said the government would provide the necessary support to ensure the investment plan proceeds smoothly. date2026-09-08

G20 Members Discuss Multilateral Cooperation to Advance AI Innovation

Minister JK (Jung-Kwan) Kim of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR) attended the 2026 G20 Innovation Ministerial Meeting in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, the United States, on September 2 (local time) as head of the Korean delegation. The United States, which holds this year’s G20 presidency, hosted the meeting, where industry and innovation ministers from G20 members discussed three topics: (1) Intellectual Property Policies for Artificial Intelligence; (2) AI for Standards and Standards for AI; and (3) Industrial Innovation and Investment in Supply Chains. The morning session, Intellectual Property Policies for Artificial Intelligence, focused on balancing AI innovation with intellectual property (IP) protection and on how patent and copyright systems should evolve as AI use expands. Minister Kim emphasized that as AI rapidly transforms research and development, creation, and innovation, IP systems should evolve so that IP rights and AI innovation reinforce each other. On patents, Minister Kim noted that broader use of AI is expanding opportunities to participate in innovation and that a reliable patent system should support this trend. On copyright, he shared Korea’s experience with the fair use principle and guidelines for AI training, emphasizing the importance of respecting creators’ legitimate rights while providing a predictable environment for AI innovation. The afternoon session covered standards for industrial AI use, as well as supply chain resilience and diversification. On AI standards, Minister Kim stressed that standards should reflect industry needs and experience in AI application. He also described Korea’s experience in working with industry to support the identification and development of relevant AI standards in key sectors, including autonomous manufacturing, AI-enabled future vehicles, and robotics.  He further stressed the importance of international cooperation to improve interoperability and reliability between technologies and systems as AI technologies and services spread across borders. Based on Korea’s experience actively participating in AI standardization discussions at the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), he said Korea will continue to contribute to international standards that support AI innovation and adoption in global markets. On supply chains, Minister Kim emphasized that AI and manufacturing innovation can help make global supply chains more resilient as those chains become more complex. Minister Kim also shared Korea’s experience with Manufacturing AI Transformation (M.AX), explaining that expanding AI use across key manufacturing industries and applying it to production planning, demand forecasting, and supply chain management can improve companies’ capacity to respond to changes and make supply chains more efficient and flexible. He emphasized that beyond improving productivity at individual companies, these efforts could strengthen crisis response across global production networks and create new opportunities for cooperation. Minister Kim stressed that stronger supply chain resilience requires diversified sourcing, closer links among countries’ industrial strengths, and broader trust-based partnerships in critical resources, materials, and components. He also proposed that the G20 play an important role in building open and complementary global supply chains by drawing on the industrial capabilities of its members. “For AI innovation to strengthen industrial competitiveness, advances in technology must go hand in hand with progress in intellectual property systems, standards, and resilient supply chains,” said Minister Kim. “Korea will continue to actively cooperate with G20 members, drawing on practical experience gained across industry.” date2026-09-03

Korea Holds Joint Briefing to Build Exporters’ Capacity to Respond to EU CBAM

The Korean government held its 13th joint briefing of 2026 on September 2 to help exporters respond to the European Union (EU) Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM). CBAM is designed to prevent carbon leakage by ensuring that selected carbon-intensive imports are subject to a carbon price equivalent to that applied to goods produced in the EU.  The event took place at Yeungnam University’s Chunma Arts Center in Gyeongsan, Gyeongsangbuk-do. The Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS), the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR), the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment (MCEE), and the Korea Customs Service (KCS) jointly hosted the briefing with related organizations. With the EU CBAM fully in effect since January 2026, Korean exporters need to clearly understand and properly apply its rules in practice, including those for calculating and verifying carbon emissions. To help Korean exporters better understand CBAM and respond more effectively, the briefing consisted of two sessions: Session 1, “Understanding CBAM,” and Session 2, “Practical Case Studies.” Session 1 explained CBAM in detail, including what the definitive period requires, how companies can respond, how to calculate carbon emissions, and how to prepare for verification. Session 2 presented real-world examples of how SMEs exporting to the EU have put systems in place to respond to CBAM and improved their export performance. In addition to the joint briefing, the government is helping Korean companies respond to CBAM through other measures. In August 2026, it provided five sessions of theoretical and hands-on training, during which SME employees practiced calculating carbon emissions. Furthermore, the government is accepting applications for the SME CBAM Response Infrastructure Program until September 15, 2026, from SMEs that export CBAM-covered goods to the EU. The program helps participating companies install equipment to measure carbon emissions and provides financial assistance with verification costs. The government has also provided on-site consulting to calculate emissions for CBAM-covered products and operates a dedicated helpline for companies at 1551-3213. “2026 is a critical year for companies exporting to the EU to prepare thoroughly for the full implementation of CBAM,” said Kim Dae-hee, Director General for SME Policy at MSS. “We hope this briefing will help companies clearly understand the CBAM rules and build the systems they need to respond effectively. We will continue to actively support Korean companies in responding to CBAM.” The government will continue to monitor revisions to CBAM, including any expansion of its scope; consult with the EU on measures that could ease the burden on Korean companies; and help companies strengthen their own capacity to respond. date2026-09-03

Korea and Japan Step Up Implementation of Supply Chain Partnership Arrangement (SCPA)

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR, Minister JK Kim) and Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) held their first implementation meeting for the Korea–Japan Supply Chain Partnership Arrangement (SCPA) in Tokyo on September 2, 2026, and discussed strengthening bilateral supply chain cooperation. Signed by MOTIR and METI in March 2026, the Korea–Japan SCPA covers joint responses to supply chain disruptions, cooperation on critical minerals and other resources, and coordination on global trade issues. At their summit in May 2026, the leaders of Korea and Japan agreed to further strengthen cooperation under the SCPA to make supply chains in key industries more resilient. At the meeting, the two sides shared their respective key policies for diversifying and stabilizing supply chains for critical minerals and discussed expanding bilateral and multilateral cooperation. They agreed to continue deepening cooperation to ensure stable supplies of LNG, crude oil, and petroleum products in times of crisis. They also exchanged information on their respective responses to major economies’ tightening of carbon emissions and supply chain due diligence regulations, including the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), and discussed future coordination. CBAM is designed to prevent carbon leakage by ensuring that selected carbon-intensive imports are subject to a carbon price equivalent to that applied to goods produced in the EU. “Amid continued uncertainty in global supply chains, supply chain cooperation between Korea and Japan, two countries with similar industrial structures, is becoming increasingly important,” said Kim Jang-hee, Director General for Emerging Trade Strategy and Policy at MOTIR. “We will build on this first implementation meeting to develop the SCPA into a communication channel for devising practical measures for bilateral supply chain cooperation and delivering tangible outcomes.” date2026-09-02

Korean Free Economic Zones to Become Hubs for Balanced National Growth

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR, Minister JK Kim) hosted Korean Free Economic Zones (KFEZ) Day 2026 in Seoul on September 2, 2026. The event brought together about 300 participants, including foreign diplomats based in Korea; representatives of foreign chambers of commerce; and executives from foreign-invested and global companies. The event introduced Korea’s foreign investment policies and highlighted the country’s strategic value as a global hub for advanced industries and its appeal to investors. It also emphasized KFEZs’ roles as key hubs and the investment incentives they offer. Companies that have successfully invested in the zones also shared their experiences, showcasing the investment value of KFEZs from multiple perspectives. Since Incheon was designated Korea’s first free economic zone in March 2003, KFEZs have expanded over the past two decades to nine zones comprising 101 districts. About 8,500 companies now operate in the zones and have created some 250,000 jobs. KFEZs have strengthened Korea’s industrial competitiveness and become key hubs for attracting global investment. Going forward, KFEZs will align their plans with national growth strategies, including the Three Megaprojects, as well as regional growth engines under the Five Mega-Regions and Three Special Self-Governing Provinces (5+3) initiative. Under this approach, the zones will attract advanced strategic industries suited to each region and large-scale corporate investment to build regional industrial ecosystems and create jobs.  “Free economic zones are key hubs that put national growth strategies into practice on the ground and connect investment in advanced industries with regional growth,” said Lee Min-woo, Acting Deputy Minister for Industry and Growth at MOTIR. “Together with local governments, we will step up efforts to attract investment and support businesses, creating the best possible environment for global companies to invest and grow with confidence.” date2026-09-02