Ministry of Trade Industry and Resources

Korea to Clear Certification Barriers and Open Global Markets as It Seeks Top-Five Exporter Status

The government will step up support for K-consumer goods SMEs, helping them secure overseas certifications and reach global markets through distribution platforms. Through these measures, the government aims to move Korea beyond K-shaped export growth, where gains are concentrated among certain companies and products, and achieve “Exports for All.” Minister JK (Jung-Kwan) Kim of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR) chaired the Second Public-Private Meeting on Export Expansion on June 24, 2026. MOTIR announced three agenda items: the Comprehensive Strategy to Support Exporting Companies with Overseas Certification; Support Measures for Halal Market Entry to Diversify Consumer Goods Exports ; and the Plan to Build Integrated Export Platforms for Distribution and K-Consumer Goods. The meeting brought together government officials, export support agencies, distribution companies, and consumer goods SMEs to discuss joint efforts to address overseas certification difficulties and expand K-consumer goods exports. In his opening remarks, Minister Kim said, “Amid external uncertainty, ‘Exports for All’ is essential for Korea to secure its place among the world’s top five exporters. Export gains should not be limited to certain companies or products, but shared more broadly.” He added, “The public and private sectors will work together and make every effort to help K-consumer goods SMEs clear overseas certification barriers and reach markets around the world through distribution platforms.” Comprehensive Strategy to Support Exporting Companies with Overseas Certification Under the strategy, the government will reduce the burden on companies seeking overseas certifications. It will increase the number of foreign test reports and certificates that can be issued in Korea from 212 to 500 by 2028, giving companies wider access to certification services at home without having to visit overseas certification bodies. It will also use export vouchers for certifications taking more than one year and raise the reimbursement rate for unsuccessful attempts from 50 percent to 70 percent. The AI-powered KnowTBT portal (www.knowtbt.kr) will serve as a single source of information on overseas certifications and technical regulations. It will also offer tailored services, including support with certification applications and links to voucher programs. The government will expand consulting to 2,000 companies by 2027, with experts supporting them from product development and process design through risk assessment and certification. The Korean Agency for Technology and Standards (KATS), Korean diplomatic missions overseas, the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA), and other institutions will work as a “One Team” to swiftly resolve difficulties with foreign regulators’ unreasonable certification requirements. The government will also set up certification support desks at KOTRA’s trade offices in 20 major countries and establish a legal basis for systematic business support by enacting legislation on responses to and support for technical barriers to trade (TBT). Support Measures for Halal Market Entry to Diversify Consumer Goods Exports  The Korea International Trade Association (KITA) will implement support measures to help K-consumer goods enter halal markets. KITA will facilitate exchanges between Korean and overseas halal certification bodies. This will help Korean bodies expand recognition agreements to Middle Eastern countries, including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and extend their coverage to cosmetics, daily necessities, and other products. Using its Southeast Asia and Middle East branches, including those in Indonesia and the UAE, KITA will operate overseas halal support centers, tentatively named K-Halal Bridge, to facilitate cooperation between Korean and overseas halal institut date2026-06-24

Korea and Türkiye to Hold 6th FTA Joint Committee Meeting

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR, Minister JK Kim) announced that the 6th Korea–Türkiye FTA Joint Committee Meeting will be held in Ankara, Türkiye, from June 23 to 24, 2026. The meeting will be led by Lee Min-young, Acting Director General for Trade Agreement Policy at MOTIR, and Hüsnü Dilemre, Director General for International Agreements and EU Affairs at Türkiye’s Ministry of Trade. Türkiye serves as a gateway from Asia to Europe and occupies a strategic location near the Middle East and North Africa. Since the Korea–Türkiye FTA entered into force in 2013, bilateral trade has continued to grow, surpassing USD 10.0 billion for the first time in 2023 and reaching a record $10.7 billion in 2025. Korea’s exports to Türkiye increased by 99.7 percent from $4.6 billion in 2012 to $9.1 billion in 2025, while Türkiye’s exports to Korea rose by 133.3 percent from $670 million to $1.6 billion over the same period. As of December 2025, Korea’s cumulative investment in Türkiye stood at $4.6 billion across 1,176 projects, 38 times Türkiye’s investment in Korea during the same period, with manufacturing accounting for 47 percent of the total. Companies such as Hyundai Motor and POSCO have established production bases in Türkiye to serve the European market, contributing to local production, employment, and exports. Korean materials and components exported to Türkiye are also used in local manufacturing processes, helping strengthen bilateral supply chains and industrial cooperation. At the 6th Joint Committee Meeting, the two sides will review the implementation of the FTA and discuss related issues. Korea will convey concerns over the increasing number of import restrictions applied to Korean products and request that related investigations be conducted in a fair and objective manner consistent with international rules. Korea will also address difficulties faced by Korean companies in areas such as customs clearance and certification. Türkiye is expected to propose measures to help reduce its trade deficit with Korea, while the two sides will also discuss cooperation on sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures.   date2026-06-23

M.AX to Expand Beyond the Factory Floor and Support Company-wide Innovation

Manufacturing AI Transformation (M.AX) will use data linkage to expand AI use beyond manufacturing processes to company-wide operations, including production planning, supply chain and inventory management, and worker safety. The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR, Minister JK Kim) held a joint launch ceremony for the Industrial AI Solution and AI Agent projects in Seoul on June 23, 2026. The event brought together approximately 100 participants, including representatives from the Korea Institute for Advancement of Technology (KIAT), manufacturing companies, and AI companies. Background As global competition over AI intensifies, major economies are accelerating efforts to develop AI technologies and deploy them in industrial settings. In manufacturing, AI adoption can directly raise productivity and competitiveness, and AI use is expanding beyond the factory floor to broader business operations. Korea is home to world-class manufacturers and has built up extensive factory-floor data and skilled workers’ know-how. These assets are critical to maintaining and strengthening Korea’s manufacturing competitiveness in the AI era and provide the basis for rapidly deploying AI across industrial sites. Launched in September 2025 with 10 divisions and approximately 1,000 participating organizations, the M.AX Alliance added the Industrial Complex AX Division in February 2026, forming its “Best Eleven” structure with 11 divisions and approximately 1,500 member organizations. Building on this cooperation, MOTIR plans to expand AI application beyond manufacturing sites to company-wide operations. Project Overview The Industrial AI Solution Project is designed to rapidly deploy AI across industrial sites by fine-tuning AI companies’ verified models for immediate use in multiple similar manufacturing processes. Projects involving approximately 30 manufacturing companies have confirmed tangible results, including more accurate steel scrap classification and improved heat exchanger quality prediction. In 2026, the project, with a budget of KRW 12.8 billion, will support approximately 30 manufacturing companies in developing early M.AX success cases and facilitate broader adoption across the industry. While AI adoption in manufacturing has improved productivity in individual processes, some have noted that its impact on overall business competitiveness remains limited. In a February 2026 demand survey, companies said AI agents should be used not only in manufacturing processes but also in decision-making areas such as production planning, business planning, marketing, and delivery management. For manufacturers, applying AI agents accurately to their specific operations requires manufacturing process data to be closely connected with decision-making. To address this need, MOTIR will launch the new AI Agent Project, which uses manufacturing data to support company-wide operations. The project will develop and demonstrate AI agents in seven upstream and downstream areas linked to manufacturing processes, including production planning, supply chain management, safety and environmental management, and product design, to support decision-making across factory-floor and office functions. The call for proposals drew interest from more than 90 companies, and MOTIR selected 10 with strong proposals, including Sungwoo Hitech and Daeduck Electronics. With a 2026 budget of KRW 6.0 billion, MOTIR will work with the Manufacturing Services Division of the M.AX Alliance to demonstrate AI agents on-site and scale the results. Data Linkage Expanding AI use beyond manufacturing processes requires manufacturing data to be connected and used across related upstream and downstream areas. The Industrial AI Solution and AI Agent projects share a common feature: both use AI to solve a range of problems at manufacturing sites. As the projects proceed, lead organizations will date2026-06-23

M.AX to Link Shipbuilding Industrial Complexes as Key Hubs for 5+3 Regional Growth

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR, Minister JK Kim) held a joint meeting of the MINI Alliances from three shipbuilding industrial complexes—Daebul, Myeongji Noksan, and Gunsan—on June 22, 2026, at Hotel Hyundai in Mokpo. The meeting brought together manufacturers, AI companies, universities, research institutes, and local governments to discuss the M.AX strategy for shipbuilding and cooperation among the three complexes. Shipbuilding relies on a broad supply chain that connects large, medium-sized, and small shipbuilders with equipment suppliers and partner companies. This makes it a key industry for supporting regional growth under the Five Mega-Regions and Three Special Self-Governing Provinces (5+3) strategy. In particular, the three complexes taking part in the meeting each handle key functions of the shipbuilding supply chain, making them a strong model for creating synergy through cooperation across the 5+3 regions. The Daebul Industrial Complex is a major shipbuilding and offshore cluster where large shipyards and partner SMEs are concentrated, while the Gunsan Industrial Complex is home to marine mobility manufacturers that mainly build medium-sized and small vessels. The Myeongji Noksan Industrial Complex is Korea’s largest shipbuilding equipment cluster, with about 60 percent of the country’s shipbuilding equipment companies. The meeting was significant in that it expanded industrial complex M.AX discussions from individual complexes to the wider shipbuilding supply chain. There has been growing recognition in the field that, to accelerate the spread of industrial-complex AX, linkages among the same industry are needed beyond the boundaries of individual complexes and regions. Reflecting these voices from the field, MOTIR used the meeting to discuss concrete cooperation measures to connect the strengths of the anchor complexes for large shipbuilding, medium-sized and small shipbuilding, and shipbuilding equipment, and to spread the shipbuilding M.AX model across the supply chain. The discussions also explored ways for complex AX—built on an ecosystem clustering industry, academia, and research—to drive productivity gains and corporate growth in regional manufacturing, and ultimately to serve as a practical means of implementing the 5+3 strategy. The three MINI Alliances agreed that the complexes should move beyond separate projects and build a shared framework that uses data, knowledge, and AI models to support decisions across design, production, and quality control. During the meeting, each complex also presented its cooperation plan to link M.AX with the shipbuilding industry. Daebul proposed building common infrastructure to use manufacturing data and AI models on-site. Myeongji Noksan presented plans to develop an AI search engine tailored to shipbuilding and expand its use across design, manufacturing, and management. Gunsan outlined plans to develop AI models for design simulation and manufacturing quality control. Participants called for government support, noting that high-quality shipbuilding data and common infrastructure for collecting, transmitting, and processing data are essential to improve AI models and expand their use. After the meeting, Minister Kim also visited the M.AX Caravan to see how AI suppliers and manufacturers are working together and to hear industry views and concerns. The Caravan is an on-site program that connects manufacturers seeking AI transformation with AI solution providers. It was designed to help manufacturers overcome information gaps and technical barriers in adopting AI, and to bring AI supplier capabilities, which are still concentrated in the Seoul metropolitan area, to regional industrial complexes. At the M.AX Caravan, 14 AI suppliers presented their solutions, and around 50 representatives from manufacturing companies attended, leading to active matching between the two sides throughout the eve date2026-06-22

Korea, Czech Republic Build on Nuclear Power Cooperation to Expand High-Tech Industry Cooperation

Minister JK (Jung-Kwan) Kim of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR) visited the Czech Republic from June 17 to 18, 2026. He met with Karel Havlíček, Minister of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic, to review cooperation on the Dukovany new nuclear power plant project and discuss expanding cooperation in high-tech industries. Second Meeting of the Dukovany Steering Committee The two ministers held the second meeting of the Dukovany Steering Committee, launched in February 2026, to review the project’s implementation progress and next steps. They confirmed that Team Korea is meeting agreed milestones, including licensing document submissions, and reviewed key risks, such as staffing for licensing documentation and heavy cargo transport plans. They also discussed ways to expand Czech companies’ participation in the project and strengthen cooperation between companies from both countries. The two sides agreed to help address implementation issues and cooperate to keep the Dukovany project on track. Third Korea–Czech Supply Chain and Energy Dialogue At the third Supply Chain and Energy Dialogue that followed, the two ministers reviewed the status of cooperation in high-tech industries and discussed ways to expand future cooperation. The two sides assessed that trust built through nuclear power cooperation is broadening bilateral cooperation into high-tech industries, and agreed to press ahead with follow-up measures under the Vltava High-Tech Industry Cooperation Vision adopted in 2024. They assessed the outcomes of bilateral and multilateral joint R&D cooperation and reviewed progress on cooperation centers and joint R&D plans in robotics, batteries, and future mobility. They also reviewed follow-up responses to key concerns raised at the March 2026 business roundtable held at Minister Havlíček’s invitation and discussed Korean companies’ plans to expand investment in the Czech Republic. Korea–Czech Nuclear Business Partnership Event The two countries also held the Korea–Czech Nuclear Business Partnership Event, marking the first anniversary of the Dukovany new nuclear power plant project contract. Minister Kim, Minister Havlíček, and other key participants welcomed the steady progress made over the past year and reaffirmed their commitment to the project’s continued implementation. During the event, KEPCO Engineering and Construction (KEPCO E&C) and ENERGOPROJEKT PRAHA (EGP) signed a contract for design and licensing technical support. Minister Kim Visits Advanced Robotics Cooperation Site Minister Kim visited the Czech Technical University in Prague (CTU), where he inspected the planned site for the Advanced Robotics Center and its robotics testbed, and was briefed on robotics industry cooperation between institutions of the two countries. He said the center is expected to serve as a key hub for joint R&D, technology demonstrations, and personnel exchanges. He also noted that the robotics center is the first to advance among the robotics, battery, and future mobility cooperation centers agreed in 2025, making it a flagship project in bilateral high-tech industry cooperation. Minister Kim said, “With the Czech government pursuing a policy to extend the operating life of nuclear power plants to up to 80 years, the Dukovany new nuclear power plant project will serve as a foundation for cooperation that will continue for more than a century, from construction through operation. Building on the successful implementation of the Dukovany project, Korea and the Czech Republic will expand cooperation beyond nuclear power to high-tech industries, supply chains, and other areas.” He added, “Starting with the Advanced Robotics Center, we will move forward as planned with cooperation centers for batteries and future mobility, further strengthening our strategic partn date2026-06-19

Korea, Mongolia Discuss Ways to Advance CEPA Talks and Accelerate Strategic Economic Cooperation

Minister for Trade Yeo Han-koo of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR, Minister JK Kim) and Jadambyn Enkhbayar, Mongolia’s First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Development, held a Korea–Mongolia trade ministers’ meeting in Mongolia on June 17, 2026. The two sides discussed expanding economic cooperation with resource-rich Mongolia and advancing negotiations on the Korea–Mongolia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). Mongolia is one of the world’s major resource-rich countries, with abundant minerals essential to advanced industries, including copper, molybdenum, and rare earth elements, and is an important emerging trade partner for Korea’s critical mineral supply chain stabilization strategy. Since upgrading their bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership in 2021, Korea and Mongolia have strengthened cooperation across politics, the economy, culture, and other areas. However, they have had no separate trade agreement to provide an institutional basis for expanding bilateral trade and investment, and have been pursuing the Korea–Mongolia CEPA since November 2023. During the meeting, Minister Yeo stressed the importance of concluding the Korea–Mongolia CEPA at an early date, noting that the agreement is key to accelerating bilateral economic cooperation and strengthening supply chain links. In the working groups on goods and rules of origin, the key areas of the CEPA negotiations, the two sides worked to align their positions toward a mutually beneficial outcome. Minister Yeo also held a roundtable with Korean companies operating in Mongolia and heard specific business concerns on the ground, including customs clearance delays and strict CEPA rules-of-origin certification requirements. At the trade ministers’ meeting, he asked the Mongolian government to give close attention to these issues and help address them. “The Korea–Mongolia CEPA will provide a key institutional foundation for expanding bilateral trade and investment and building a stable supply chain partnership,” Minister Yeo said. “We will accelerate the negotiations to reach a mutually beneficial outcome.” date2026-06-17

May 2026 Automobile Exports Total $5.83 Billion

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR) announced that Korea’s automobile exports fell 5.9 percent year-on-year to USD 5.83 billion in May 2026, amid fewer working days and production disruptions caused by a fire at a domestic auto parts. Domestic sales and production fell 10.3 percent and 8.2 percent, respectively. For January–May, export value and production edged down 2.6 percent and 2.3 percent, respectively, while domestic sales rose 1.0 percent. By region, exports increased to Oceania (up 20.1 percent) and Africa (up 16.1 percent) in May, but declined in key markets, including North America (down 1.0 percent) and the European Union (down 6.5 percent). Exports also fell in Asia (down 37.3 percent) and the Middle East (down 4.2 percent). The decline appears to reflect a combination of domestic and external factors, including logistics disruptions from the prolonged war in the Middle East and lower used-car exports. Exports of eco-friendly vehicles remained solid. Export value rose 9.9 percent year-on-year to $2.40 billion in May, accounting for more than 40 percent of total automobile exports. Hybrid vehicles made up about 65 percent of eco-friendly vehicle exports and continued to lead growth in the segment. Domestic sales totaled 127,000 units in May, down 10.3 percent year-on-year. The decline reflected production and delivery disruptions for some domestically produced vehicles caused by parts supply issues, as well as delayed purchases ahead of new model launches scheduled for the second half of 2026. Eco-friendly vehicle sales rose 5.5 percent year-on-year to 77,000 units, accounting for more than 60 percent of total domestic sales. Electric vehicle sales rose 65.4 percent to 35,000 units. Automobile production totaled 330,000 units in May, down 8.2 percent year-on-year. The decline reflected an average of one fewer working day and some production disruptions caused by a fire at a domestic auto parts supplier. As parts supply is expected to normalize beginning in June, production and export performance are projected to improve gradually. MOTIR will continue communicating closely with the industry and monitoring parts supply, logistics conditions, and changes in export markets, as external uncertainties persist, including the global economic slowdown and expanded local sourcing by major global automakers. date2026-06-17

Korea, UAE Build on Special Strategic Partnership to Deepen Cooperation on Crude Oil Supplies, Nuclear Power, and Plant Projects

Minister JK (Jung-Kwan) Kim of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR) visited the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on June 16, concluding a three-country Middle East tour to bolster energy security and economic cooperation. As Korea’s third-largest crude oil supplier, the UAE is the only Middle Eastern nation to hold a Special Strategic Partnership with Korea. During a March visit by the Special Envoy for Strategic and Economic Cooperation, UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan pledged to prioritize crude oil supplies to Korea amid the global energy crisis. Minister Kim's visit aimed to review the implementation of that March agreement and discuss strategic initiatives, including joint oil stockpiling, nuclear energy, and industrial plant projects. Minister Kim met with senior officials, including Musabbeh Al Kaabi, CEO of the Upstream Division at the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC)—a central player in global energy supply chains, where he received confirmation that the 24 million barrels of emergency crude oil pledged by the UAE in March were arriving smoothly on schedule. Minister Kim, throughout his tour, also engaged with high-level UAE officials to discuss long-term resource security cooperation. As a result, both sides agreed to continue talks on joint crude oil stockpiling, a key priority for the UAE. Furthermore, the two sides consulted extensively on cooperation regarding the UAE’s large-scale infrastructure projects—such as pipeline expansions and underground oil storage facilities—designed to establish a supply chain bypassing the Strait of Hormuz. Minister Kim requested the UAE’s active support to aid Korean companies, which possess high-level design, construction, and operational capabilities, secure participation in major plant projects aimed at stabilizing core energy supply chains. Subsequently, Minister Kim met with high-ranking officials from key UAE nuclear energy agencies, including Sharif Salim Al Olama, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure. To deepen full-cycle cooperation at the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant, both sides reviewed corporate progress and discussed concrete plans regarding △securing stable nuclear fuel supplies, △strengthening plant maintenance, and △expanding artificial intelligence (AI) and digital transformation (DT) in plant operations. Building on the Barakah model, they also held in-depth discussions on jointly entering strategic global nuclear power markets, focusing on △selecting candidate markets, △establishing cooperation frameworks, △defining corporate roles, and △financial and investment cooperation. In addition, following the May 17 drone attack on power transmission facilities near the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant, Korea and the UAE agreed to strengthen information sharing and technical cooperation on nuclear plant protection systems. This serves as a follow-up to a May 21 Ministerial virtual, where both Ministers reviewed repair progress and discussed safety measures for Korean employees working in the region. Minister Kim stated, “The UAE is a vital partner that has steadfastly anchored Korea’s energy supply chains despite Middle Eastern uncertainties. This visit confirmed that our oil cooperation has evolved beyond simple trade into a strategic partnership that functions effectively in any crisis.” He emphasized, “Based on this deep mutual trust, we will advance our strategic partnership by deepening full-lifecycle nuclear cooperation—including operations, maintenance, security, and joint exports to third countries—while expanding opportunities for Korean companies in key plant infrastructure sectors. date2026-06-17