Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy

Auto production, sales improve in February

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced on March 15 that production, domestic sales and exports of automobiles all improved in February from a year earlier, signaling a recovery in the auto sector.   Five domestic carmakers – Hyundai Motor, Kia Motors, GM Korea, SsangYong Motor and Renault Samsung Motors – produced a total of 336,032 vehicles in February, up 9.8 percent from a year earlier on more working days in the month and higher sales at home and abroad.&nbsp date2017-03-15

Korea’s retail sales advance 8.3% in January on strong in-store sales

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced on February 28 that retail sales expanded 8.3 percent in January from a year ago on strong in-store sales.   In-store sales, which account for around 70 percent of the total monthly revenues of major Korean retailers, advanced 9.3 percent in January from a year earlier while online sales grew 6 percent.    The combined revenues of three department store chains, hypermarket operators, convenient store chains and super superma date2017-02-28

MOTIE officials visit 2017 Mobile World Congress

Trade, Industry and Energy Deputy Minister for Industrial Creativity and Innovation Toh Kyung-hwan (center) visited the Korea booth set up by the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency at the 2017 Mobile World Congress at the Fira Gran Via in Barcelona, Spain, on February 27.  Deputy Minister Toh visited the booths of Korean companies including Samsung Electronics, LG Electronics, SK Telecom and Innopia Technologies as well as global corporations including Amazon, Google and BMW. During t date2017-02-27

Auto sales show signs of recovery in January

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced on February 16 that domestic car sales and automobile part exports inched up in January while production and exports of vehicles declined due to fewer working days in the month,    Domestic car sales showed signs of recovery, advancing 0.2 percent to 123,575 vehicles in January from a year earlier thanks to the higher sales of vehicles produced in Korea.    The sales of domestically built cars climbed up 1.2 percent to date2017-02-16

Minister Joo hosts 1st meeting of public-private committee for future of car industry

Trade, Industry and Energy Minister Joo Hyunghwan (center) hosted the first meeting of the public-private Automotive Industry Development Committee on February 7 in Seoul and discussed a range of strategies for the industry, especially for future car technologies.  The Ministry launched the committee to examine complex issues facing the Korean automotive industry, which is at a turning point, and discuss mid- and long-term strategies. Minister Joo emphasized in an opening remark that for date2017-02-07

Ministry launches policy control tower for future of car industry

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced on February 7 that Trade, Industry and Energy Minister Joo Hyunghwan hosted the first meeting of the public-private ``Automotive Industry Development Committee'' in Seoul and discussed a range of strategies for the industry that is at a turning point.   The Ministry launched the committee to examine complicated issues facing the Korean automotive industry and discuss mid- and long-term strategies, especially for future car technologies. date2017-02-07

Ministry announces measures to improve battery, smartphone safety

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) has concluded through its own investigation that the battery problem in manufacturing processes may have caused fires in Samsung Electronics’ Galaxy Note 7 smartphone, it said in a press release on Monday. In its efforts to prevent the recurrence of similar accidents and to enhance protection of consumers, the Ministry will strengthen the safety rules for new technology-based lithium-ion batteries in the phrase of production and as well date2017-02-06

Vice Minister Jeong hosts discussion on development of eco-friendly, smart ships

Trade, Industry and Energy Vice Minister Jeong Marn-ki (left) hosted a meeting with representatives from the shipbuilding industry on February 1 in Seoul to discuss the direction of policy toward the development of eco-friendly and smart vessels. During the meeting, Vice Minister Jeong, industry representatives and experts from research institutes reviewed current issues in the shipbuilding industry and discussed the future policy direction for the industry in an era of the Fourth Industrial Re date2017-02-01

Korea’s retail sales grow 8.5% in 2016

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced on January 31 that retail sales rose by 8.5 percent in 2016 from a year earlier, driven by a double-digit growth of e-commerce sales.    Online retail sales soared 18.1 percent year-on-year in 2016 while in-store sales increased 4.5 percent. E-commerce sales have recorded a double-digit growth for three consecutive years amid the shift toward shopping on the Internet. It represents 32.4 percent of the total retail sales in 2016, up date2017-01-31

Korea’s auto production and sales decline in 2016

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced on January 11 that Korea’s auto production, domestic sales and exports all appear to have slowed in 2016 despite some numbers having bounced back towards the year-end. Data revealed that although car production and exports in December rose 5.9 percent to 434,877 units and 6.3 percent to 300,242 units, respectively, from a year earlier, domestic sales dropped year-on-year by 7.2 percent to 186,035 units. However, when compared to the mon date2017-01-11