Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy

Korea and Netherlands launch Future Chips Academy 2025

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) and Korea Institute for Advancement of Technology (KIAT) are launching the Korea-Netherlands Future Chips Academy 2025 from June 16–20 in the Netherlands to boost bilateral exchanges in raising high-quality semiconductor talents. Now in its second year, the Future Chips Academy is a joint Korea-Netherlands education program based on the two countries’ semiconductor business cooperation offering a specialized course for the training of highly-skilled global talents in areas of cutting-edge chip technology. During this year’s exchanges, 50 students taking master’s and doctoral courses at semiconductor specialization graduate schools in Korea are visiting leading Dutch institutions and companies such as ASML, NXP Semiconductors, imec the Netherlands (IMEC), and Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) to take part in various programs, including lectures and a team project challenge. It is anticipated that these exchanges will help Korean chip talents enhance their understanding on advanced chip technology trends while also building up Korea’s semiconductor R&D capacity. This year’s Future Chips Academy includes an in-depth discussion session on the topic of future chips to seek relevant measures for bilateral R&D cooperation and education, as well as lectures at local companies given by experts on patterning technology and automotive chips. On the last day, the team project challenge will have students share what they have learned and propose creative ideas for semiconductor technology development. In the coming months of July and August 2025, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) and the Korea Semiconductor Academy are slated to engage in exchange programs, respectively, with the Netherlands’ Eindhoven University of Technology and Delft University of Technology. In September, 30 top graduates of the Korea Semiconductor Academy will be given the opportunity to participate in a five-day education program in the Netherlands through which they can acquire practical knowledge in the field and broaden their scope of experience.   date2025-06-16

Korea’s ICT exports climb 9.6% in May

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) and the Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT) announced today that Korea’s exports and imports of information and communications technology (ICT) goods for the month of May 2025 advanced 9.6 percent and 0.5 percent year-on-year, respectively, to USD 20.9 billion and $11.5 billion. The trade balance stood at a surplus of $9.4 billion. It is significant that ICT exports reached record highs for the month in spite of recent global trade uncertainties. By item, exports of semiconductors (up 21.2 percent), mobile phones (up 2.8 percent), computers/peripherals (up 1.7 percent), and communication devices (up 10.2 percent) achieved gains, whereas those of displays declined (down 17.5 percent). Semiconductor exports rose as fixed prices of major items like DRAMs and NAND flash rebounded and high value-added memory chips like HBMs and DDR5s retained strong growth momentum. Mobile phones expanded on the backs of demand for finished smartphone products and computers/peripherals increased in step with revived demand for solid-state drives (SSDs). Exports of communication devices were driven by rising demand for automotive communication systems in the U.S. and 5G equipment in India. In contrast, displays were negatively affected by trade uncertainties and sluggish global demand. By region, Korea’s May ICT exports increased to destinations like the U.S. (up 7.2 percent), Vietnam (up 15.7 percent), EU (up 1.5 percent), and Japan (up 12.5 percent), while those to China (including Hong Kong) (down 6.8 percent) contracted. Meanwhile, the uptick in ICT imports was led by items like computers/peripherals (up 37.4 percent), powered by AI-driven demand for datacenter GPUs (up 51.1 percent) as well as midrange and mainframe computers (up 130 percent).   date2025-06-12

Seoul Food 2025 takes off at KINTEX

Deputy Minister for International Trade and Investment Park Jung-sung attended Seoul Food 2025 on June 10 at KINTEX in Ilsan, held with the participation of 1,639 food companies from 45 countries and gave a congratulatory address and toured the major booths with KOTRA President Kang Kyung-sung and KINTEX President Lee Jae-yul. date2025-06-11

Seoul Food 2025 kicks off at record scale

Korea’s Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) and the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA) announced that the Seoul International Food Industry Exhibition 2025 (Seoul Food 2025) is held from June 10–13 at the Korea International Exhibition Center (KINTEX) in Ilsan. Launched in 1983, Seoul Food is now in its 43rd year and ranks as Korea’s largest and Asia’s fourth largest food exhibition. This year’s Seoul Food has drawn a record of 1,639 food businesses from 45 countries and the number of overseas buyers participating in the trade consultations program have jumped 20 percent year-on-year to 300 companies. The popularity of K-food sweeping across parts like Southeast Asia and the U.S. has attracted a substantial number of their major buyers to engage in this year’s trade consultations, which are estimated to generate an export contract value of roughly USD 0.25 billion, up 25 percent from last year. Meanwhile, global experts will have the opportunity to present and discuss various issues at the 9th Global Food Trend & Tech Conference program, addressing recent global food industry trends such as meat alternatives, low-sugar products, future food technology, AI, robots, and digital food technology. Moreover, a score of leading businesses in the areas of meat alternatives, food tech, and convenience meals will be awarded during the 10th Seoul Food Awards program for their achievements, while exclusive promotion booths will be set up to assist the export of quality food items. Another special feature of Seoul Food 2025 is the addition of influencers and content creators from Korea, China, Vietnam, and Japan, who will be joining to boost the sales and promotion of food products through digital platforms, in an effort to expand beyond the conventional retail network. In conjunction with Seoul Food 2025, Korea’s Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs (MAFRA) is hosting a one-on-one trade consultation program to support the diversification of competent SMEs and middle-market companies, where buyers from emerging markets like Chile, Guatemala, and Laos are introduced to Korea’s top export items like kimchi, red ginseng, and yuja preserves as part of creating tangible outcomes like MOUs and trade deals to penetrate new markets. Furthermore, the National Food Cluster pavilion is opening for the second consecutive year to support 48 promising food companies’ exhibitions, tasting events, and buyer consultations.   date2025-06-10

Korea’s retail industry grows 7.0% in April

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) announced today that Korea’s retail industry advanced 7.0 percent year-on-year in April 2025, with offline sales receding 1.9 percent and online sales climbing 15.8 percent. MOTIE's monthly retail sales figures are based on surveys of 23 major retailers. Thirteen of them are brick-and-mortar retailers: three department store chains, three hypermarket chains, three convenience store chains, and four super supermarket (SSMs) operators. The remaining 10 are online retailers. Offline sales were affected by weakened consumer confidence, increasing online purchases, and the rapidly shifting weather patterns observed recently, which led to a decline in outdoor activities. As a result, hypermarkets and department stores saw sales shrink 3.1 percent and 2.9 percent, respectively. Meanwhile, SSMs gained 0.2 percent while convenience stores (down 0.6 percent) slowed for the second time this year following their previous decline in February. Online sales are on an upward trajectory, driven by the expansion of online shopping, heightened competition among delivery services, and the wider range of available services. Most categories of offline sales slid with the exception of luxury goods (up 1.1 percent), while online retail sales continue to grow on the backs of food products (up 21.3 percent) and services (up 50.1 percent) such as food delivery, e-coupons, and travel packages. Online sales of fashion/clothing (down 8.6 percent) are still sluggish, whereas cosmetics (up 11.6 percent) are maintaining growth.   date2025-05-28

Korea’s automobile exports record $6.5 billion in April

Korea’s Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) announced today that domestic automobile sales for the month of April 2025 logged 150,622 units, increasing month-on-month for the third consecutive month. Domestic sales advanced 6.7 percent year-on-year on the backs of continued demand for electric vehicles (EVs) and hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), each gaining 50.3 percent and 29.9 percent year-on-year, respectively, in terms of units. Their aggregate sales volume accounts for 46 percent (68,048 units) of Korea’s entire domestic sales in April. Korea’s automobile exports for April (USD 6.5 billion) saw growth in destinations like the EU, Asia, Middle East, Latin America, and Africa. Exports to the EU advanced 26.7 percent year-on-year, based on strong demand for Korean EV models in the local market. Moreover, the robust exports of secondhand cars helped boost auto exports to non-EU European countries (up 11.6 percent) and Asia (up 53.9 percent). Meanwhile, U.S.-bound automobile exports shrank 19.6 percent from the impact of tariffs and other factors, including a major Korean automaker’s opening of a new production plant in Georgia, U.S. Automobile production inched down by only 2.2 percent to 385,621 units in spite of growing trade uncertainties, powered by surging domestic sales and Korean automobiles’ solid performance in the EU and non-U.S. markets.   date2025-05-20

Minister Ahn awards companies at 22nd Automotive Day

Korea’s Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy attended the 22nd Automotive Day on May 14 in Seoul with the participation of 200 industry representatives and awarded 34 medals and orders of merit including the Silver Tower Order of Industrial Service Merit, which went to Anjun Industrial Co. for its contribution to the mass production of Korea’s first hybrid vehicle hollow stem valve. date2025-05-15

Korea’s ICT exports grow 10.8% in April

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) and the Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT) announced today that Korea’s exports of information and communications technology (ICT) goods for the month of April 2025 gained 10.8 percent year-on-year to USD 18.9 billion, while imports inched down 2.4 percent to $11.3 billion. The trade balance netted a surplus of $7.6 billion. Despite global trade uncertainties, April ICT exports saw solid growth momentum overall with semiconductors (up 17.2 percent to $11.7 billion) hitting all-time highs for the month. Mobile phones (up 28.6 percent) and communication devices (up 3.5 percent) likewise advanced, whereas exports of displays (down 7.6 percent) and computers/peripherals (down 11.9 percent) retreated. The growth of semiconductor exports is attributable to the rebound in fixed prices of DRAMs and heightened demand for high value-added chips like HBMs and DDR5s. Mobile phones maintained an upward trajectory powered by finished products’ export recovery and robust demand from overseas parts manufacturers. Communication device exports advanced on the backs of strong demand for automotive and 5G equipment.  Meanwhile, display exports shrank due to slower demand and an ensuing change in the shipment schedule. Computers/peripherals experienced a temporary slowdown in demand from increased inventory levels, exports turning to a contraction for the first time in 16 months. By region, Korea’s April ICT exports expanded to the U.S. (up 0.5 percent), Vietnam (up 13.4 percent), the EU (up 14.7 percent), and Japan (up 8.5 percent), whereas those to China (including Hong Kong) (down 1.5 percent) slid.   date2025-05-14

41st APEC Automotive Dialogue launches on Jeju Island

Korea’s Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) announced today that the 41st APEC Automotive Dialogue (AD) will convene through May 9–10 at the International Convention Center Jeju (ICC Jeju) on the sidelines of the APEC Second Senior Officials’ Meeting and Related Meetings (SOM2). The APEC AD is a public-private forum for the sharing of major policy issues and industrial trends among APEC members’ governments and auto industries to seek measures for cooperation. Launched in 1999, it serves as APEC’s major communication channel on diverse automotive areas spanning electric mobility, autonomous driving, and trade. As Korea is the chair of APEC 2025, MOTIE and the Korea Automobile Manufacturers Association (KAMA) are co-chairs of this year’s AD, held with the participation of 16 member economies including Chile, China, Japan, and the U.S. Key agendas address automobile industry and market trends, EV transition, autonomous driving and AI technology, and future mobility. During the event, Korea will present on core issues with regard to future mobility transition including EV architecture innovation, battery recycling, hydrogen mobility and fuel cell technology, and purpose-built vehicles (PBVs). It is anticipated that the discussions will strengthen cooperation among member countries and facilitate exchanges on industrial technologies and policy trends.   date2025-05-09

K-Humanoid Alliance driving new synergies across Korea’s robotics industry

Korea’s Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) announced on May 1 that the K-Humanoid Alliance (“Alliance”), launched April 10, is creating momentum for new collaboration dynamics across Korea’s robot industry ecosystem. Within three weeks of its launch, no less than four memorandums of understanding (MOUs) have been forged among participating firms, with discussions underway for multiple MOUs, purchase contracts, and joint technology development. Five domestic robot companies will be supporting the robot AI foundation model development by supplying humanoid robots to the Seoul National University Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (SNUAILAB) and more than 20 companies have already sought participation in the Alliance. On April 16, Rainbow Robotics and CJ Logistics sealed an MOU for joint development and commercialization of logistics robots. AeiROBOT, a multi-winner of international robotics competitions, also inked MOUs with POSCO E&C and HMD on April 16 and April 22, respectively, with plans to develop humanoid robots for construction sites and shipyards. Korea’s leading robot parts company ROBOTIS unveiled its AI humanoid walker robot during an MOU signing ceremony on April 25 with the Korea Integrated Logistics Association (KILA), signaling the firm’s entry into the humanoid robot business for automated logistics. Holiday Robotics, Blue Robin, and ROBROS are some of Korea’s robot companies engaged in ongoing discussions with major domestic manufacturers for deployment of robots at production sites. Cooperation is gaining traction between robot companies and AI experts. Rainbow Robotics, AeiROBOT, Holiday Robotics, ROBOTIS, and ROBROS are among the humanoid robot makers in Korea that plan to provide humanoid robots to SNUAILAB within this year. SNUAILAB and a group of AI experts are aiming to secure robot behavior data from these humanoid robots to conduct AI model testing and develop a general-purpose robot foundation model.  Collaboration between robot parts manufacturers and robot companies is also picking up speed. Wonik Robotics, Faraday Dynamics, and ROBOTIS are some of Korea’s robot parts makers actively involved in cooperation to develop core humanoid robot components such as robotic hands, actuators, and decelerators for joint participation in MOTIE’s R&D projects. On the occasion of the newly launched Alliance, MOTIE intends to support over 10 joint R&D projects over a five-year period to catalyze collaboration between parts makers and robot firms in view of the essential need for specialization in developing high-quality humanoid robots and securing mass production capacity. With over 20 companies seeking to join the Alliance, a humanoid fund slated for launch during the second half of this year is also receiving heated interest from the financial sector. In the near future, MOTIE plans to hold an inaugural meeting to establish rules and stipulate the assigning of different roles and collaboration measures among participants to facilitate the Alliance’s organized operation. Rules will include various guidelines concerning new membership procedures, robot AI development, joint simulator development, funding, regular exhibitions, and talent training.   date2025-05-02