Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy

ICT exports expected to rebound in 2017

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced on January 25 that exports of information and communications technology (ICT) products contracted 6 percent in 2016 from a year ago, but are expected to return to growth this year, having already rebounded to positive territory in the fourth quarter.   In 2016, exports of ICT products, including semiconductors, mobile phones, computers and displays, dropped 6 percent to USD162.5 billion from a year earlier while imports fell 1.8 percent date2017-01-25

Vice Minister Jeong discusses plans to prop up exports in 2017

Trade, Industry and Energy Vice Minister Jeong Marn-ki (second from left) held this year’s first comprehensive meeting to discuss how to support Korea’s export promotion in Seoul on January 20 with Park Jin-kyu (left), the trade ministry’s deputy director general for international trade policy, and roughly 30 other related officials. They reviewed future projects for government spending that might help grow the country’s exports in 2017. They also announced the outlook o date2017-01-20

Vice Minister Woo hosts 5th meeting of working group for Korea-US trade issues

Trade, Industry and Energy Vice Minister Woo Taehee (left) hosted the fifth meeting of the working group, created to respond to the changing environment in trade with the U.S., on January 19 at the Government Complex Seoul in central Seoul. At the meeting with about 20 officials from other ministries and public and private institutions, Vice Minister Woo shared the outcomes of the fourth Korea-U.S. FTA Joint Committee meeting  on January 12 and information on trade policies of the new U.S. date2017-01-19

Vice Minister Woo hosts 4th meeting of task force for Korea-China trade issues

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced on January 17 that it hosted the fourth meeting of the pan-government task force on Korea-China trade issues to review the latest concerns raised by domestic industries.     Trade, Industry and Energy Vice Minister Woo Taehee presided the meeting, which was joined by officials from other relevant ministries including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism as well as representatives from vari date2017-01-17

Industrial materials, components exports return to growth in 4Q

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced on January 16 that exports of industrial materials and components returned to growth in the fourth quarter last year after six quarters of contraction.    Exports of materials and components rose by 2 percent to USD 66.3 billion from the same quarter of 2015, on the back of the recovery of export prices to positive territory for the first time in two years.   Imports in the sectors rebounded along in the fourth quarter, up 1 date2017-01-16

Vice Minister Woo hosts 'trade policy forum'

Trade, Industry and Energy Vice Minister Woo Taehee (second from right) held a 'trade policy forum' in Seoul on January 11 to discuss in advance some of the pending trade issues facing each industry and possibly construct potential countermeasures. Some of the key industry leaders including Kim Yong-geun, president and CEO of the Korea Automobile Manufacturers Association; Song Jae-bin, vice chairman of the Korea Iron and Steel Association; and Lim Seung-yoon, vice chairman of the Korea Petroch date2017-01-11

FDI in Korea hits fresh record high in 2016

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced on Tuesday that the foreign direct investment (FDI) newly pledged in 2016 reached a record high of USD 21.3 billion, showing a 1.9 percent rise from $20.91 billion a year ago.   This figure marked the largest amount of FDI pledged in history for a four-quarter-period, surpassing the earlier record of $20.91 billion set in 2015. The amount of new FDI into the country has now surpassed the $20 billion mark for two years in a row, accordin date2017-01-05

Korean exports jump 6.4 percent in December

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced on Sunday that South Korean exports rose by 6.4 percent to USD 45.1 billion in December last year compared to the same period a year ago, while on-year imports rose by 7.3 percent to $38.1 billion. Accordingly, the trade balance in December stood at a $7 billion surplus, remaining in the positive for the 59th consecutive month.With the help of the positive growth of exports in November and December in a row, quarterly exports turned to po date2017-01-04

Korea to invest 14 trillion won into new energy projects

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced on January 4 that it expects Korea will invest nearly 14 trillion won into emerging energy industries, primarily driven by an increase in investments by the private sector.   Trade, Industry and Energy Minister Joo Hyunghwan hosted a meeting between himself, the financial sector, public sector, as well as other suppliers and business leaders, in order to share investment plans and introduce some of the new businesses that are currently date2017-01-04

Minister Joo holds second public-private talk on Korea-U.S. trade issues

Trade, Industry and Energy Minister Joo Hyunghwan (second from left) on December 28 hosted a second meeting between government and private experts that convened last month in order to deal with potential U.S. protectionist measures amid the incoming Trump administration. Minister Joo and roughly 40 other business leaders and heads of research institutes including Kim In-ho, chairman and CEO of Korea International Trade Association; Lee Dong-geun, executive vice chairman of Korea Chamber of Comm date2016-12-28