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Ministry of Trade, industry and Energy PRESS CENTER Press Releases

Press Releases

Korea to Leverage FDI as Key Driver of Regional Growth Under the “5-Poles, 3-Specialized Zones” Strategy
  • Registration date2025-12-10
  • Attached file

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR, Minister Kim Jung-kwan) convened the third Central–Local Government Policy Council on Foreign Direct Investment on Wednesday, December 10. Chaired by Director General for Trade and Investment Kang Gam-chan, the meeting brought together representatives from 13 metropolitan cities and provinces, as well as five Free Economic Zone (FEZ) offices, the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (Invest KOREA), and the Korea Industrial Complex Corporation (KICOX) to explore FDI strategies that could support Korea’s shift from a Seoul-centered monocentric structure to a region-driven multicentric system under the “5-Poles, 3-Specialized Zones” framework.


Approximately 75 percent of Korea’s FDI inflows between 1998 and 2024 have been concentrated in the Seoul metropolitan area, indicating a continued imbalance even when taking the capital-centered economic structure into account. Against this backdrop, the council discussed policy directions to position FDI as a new growth driver under the “5-Poles, 3-Specialized Zones” framework and to attract greater foreign investment to regional areas, particularly in advanced technologies, supply chains, and other key industries. Participants also discussed effective measures to encourage increased and timely investment, including strategic investor outreach (IR) programs, support for foreign investment zones, and efforts to resolve business challenges. 


At the meeting, Director General Kang stated that “MOTIR will actively expand incentives, including cash grants, to channel FDI into key regional hubs.” Representatives of metropolitan and provincial governments expressed their commitment to pursuing diverse efforts to attract foreign investment based on their regional strengths.


MOTIR will incorporate industry feedback and expert advice from the meeting into its 2026 FDI policy plan. The ministry will also continue to strengthen central–local cooperation by holding biannual councils on FDI and trade.