Ministry of Trade Industry and Resources

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR, Minister JK Kim) held a meeting at the Korea Press Center on October 29, 2026, with veteran engineering leaders who have led Korea’s industrial development.

The meeting was held to mark the inaugural Engineers’ Day on October 30 and thank members of the engineering community for their dedication and contributions to Korea’s industrialization and technological advancement. Their work has made Korea globally competitive in semiconductors, displays, automobiles, shipbuilding, steel, robotics, and other industries. The ministry also sought to learn from their experience and hear their insights on the future of Korean industry amid rapid industrial change.

Participants included Chin Dae-je, former President of Samsung Electronics and former Minister of Information and Communication, who led the development of DRAM chips including the world’s first 64-megabit, 256-megabit, and 1-gigabit chips; Park Sung-wook, former Vice Chairman of SK hynix, who led the development of high-bandwidth memory (HBM) and innovation in semiconductor technology; and Kwon Oh-kyong, Endowed-Chair Professor at Hanyang University, who contributed to developing and commercializing key technologies for the world’s first AMOLED displays.

Other engineering leaders who attended included Yang Woong-chul, former Vice Chairman of Hyundai Motor Company, and Cho Sung-hwan, former CEO of Hyundai Mobis, both of whom led innovation in next-generation automotive technologies. Lee Chung-dong, former head of the Central Research Institute at Hyundai Heavy Industries, led advances in shipbuilding, including the development of ship control technologies. Cho Hyung-hee, Professor Emeritus at Yonsei University, developed key cooling technologies for gas turbines, while Shin Kyung-chul, Honorary Chairman of Yujin Robot, led advances in industrial robotics. Min Dong-joon, Professor Emeritus at Yonsei University, developed the theoretical basis for commercializing the FINEX ironmaking process. Rhee Byung-geon, former Vice Chairman of Chong Kun Dang Holdings, led the development of treatments for osteoarthritis and hemophilia.

Before the luncheon discussion began, Minister Kim thanked members of the engineering community for pushing technological boundaries with determination and dedication despite countless failures and challenges, crediting them with Korea’s rise as a technological powerhouse. Amid the new challenges posed by the AI revolution and global competition for technological leadership, he asked the veteran engineering leaders who pioneered Korea’s industrialization for advice on how Korean industry should develop to take its next leap forward.

During the luncheon discussion, participants held wide-ranging discussions on the direction Korean industry should take in the AI era, the engineering community’s role in accelerating industrial innovation, and how to create an environment where its members can focus on research and technology development.

Minister Kim identified the Mega Projects, worth KRW 1,600 trillion in total, and Manufacturing AI Transformation (M.AX) as drivers of future growth and stressed the need to pool national capabilities to ensure their success. He called on the engineering community to actively provide input and contribute to policymaking and implementation. He also said that creating an environment where members of the engineering community are respected by society and fairly rewarded is essential to sustaining innovation. The government would take an active role in establishing the necessary institutional framework, he added.

Based on the discussions at the meeting, MOTIR plans to pursue policies in earnest to enhance recognition of and respect for members of the engineering community and create an environment that supports innovative research and development. To mark the inaugural Engineers’ Day, the ministry will run a campaign through the end of the year to raise the standing of the engineering community. The campaign will include awards honoring individuals for their contributions to national development and events such as the “Kkumteul: Industrial Technology Academy,” the Women Engineers Conference, and the Korea Tech Festival. MOTIR also plans to work with relevant institutions, including the National Academy of Engineering of Korea (NAEK) and the Korea Institute for Advancement of Technology (KIAT), on projects to support the development of young members of the engineering community.