Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy

Samsung Electronics to transfer proprietary technologies to SME's for free

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) announced on September 07 that Samsung Electronics will transfer its 2,987 proprietary technologies to SME's for free.     The MOTIE has been promoting technology sharing since 2013 for SME's to improve their competitiveness by making good use of the technologies that are not currently being applied with the cooperation of large corporations, and it's Samsung Electronics' turn to share.   Among the 2,987 technologies that Samsung Electronics decided to release, the MOTIE will first share the 818 technologies related to audio, video and mobile devices with SME's since they're the ones that can most easily be applied on the SME's products.     SME's can apply for technology transfer by mail or visiting the Ministry in person by October 6, 2015, after checking the list and details at National Tech-Bank (www.ntb.kr).     The MOTIE will also offer one-on-one consultation services after holding the "Technology Transfer Forum at Site" on September 16, 2015 in order to help SME's better understand the system of technology sharing.     * Short version date2015-09-07

Major Retailers Sales Trends in July 2015

  □ In July 2015, sales by major retailers, including those of department stores and convenience stores, rose from a year earlier, while those of hypermarkets and super supermarkets fell marginally.   □ By retailer, sales by department stores rose, following an increase in the sales of home appliances and overseas renowned brands. Sales by convenience stores also increased significantly for six consecutive months, following a rise in the number of convenience stores and tobacco sales, resulting in a growth of 26.2 percent on average. On the contrary, the sales of hypermarkets and SSMs decreased due to a drop in sales of non-food items.   □By product group, the sales of food, household articles, and tobacco rose while those of miscellaneous goods and clothing fell.   □ While sales by hypermarkets and department stores decreased sharply in June due to the MERS outbreak, their sales growth recovered to a three-month average before the outbreak in July. The sales of convenience stores and SSMs were not greatly influenced.   date2015-08-30

Automobile Industry Trends for July 2015

    □ South Korea’s domestic automobile sales increased 7.3 percent from a year earlier, mainly due to rising purchases of SUVs and minivans. The country’s domestic production and exports figures decreased 1.1 percent and 2.0 percent, respectively, as a result of economic downturns in emerging markets and decreasing price competitiveness.   □ : Monthly automobile production for July was 404,770 units, down by 1.1 percent. The primary cause of this was a decline in the volume of exports. This happened because the volume of exports declined while domestic sales increased. In addition, some domestic factories made significant improvements to their production lines.   □ Diesel, as well as the continuing popularity of Hyundai Motors' Santa Fe, Kia's Sorento and Carnival, GM Korea's Captiva, and Ssangyong's Tivoli.   - Sales of imported cars amounted to 23,104 units. Although this figure was up 22.8 percent YoY, the MoM figure was down by 12.7 percent.   □ : Exports of finished cars declined by 2.0 percent to 258,781 units. This was primarily due to economic weakness in emerging markets (including Russia), as well as lower price competitiveness following the devaluation of the yen and the Euro.   - Exports of auto parts fell by 10.7 percent to $2.25 billion from a year earlier. This was mostly due to sluggish demand from emerging markets.   □ YoY production of finished vehicles from January to July 2015 was down by 0.9 percent. Exports fell 3.3 percent, while domestic sales increased by 6.4 percent. Exports of auto parts fell by 4.9 percent.   date2015-08-30

The Korean Agency for Technology and Standards selects 21 new technologies

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) announced on August 27 that the Korean Agency for Technology and Standards under the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy selected 21 new technologies and awarded certificates.     One of the new technologies that received the award was the one developed by Daewon Sanup that can be used to make sheets that minimizes injuries to the passengers' head and upper body in a car accident by absorbing the shock of the collision. The company plans to apply the new technology in 450,000 vehicles in the next three years, and expects to see sales of 180 billion won ($ 162 million).     Another one is the textile jointly developed by Hyundai Motor, NVH Korea and Toray Chemical Korea that can absorb engine noise and block the heat from the engine. They expect to see sales of 150 billion won in the next four years.     Another award recipient, Pharos Vaccine, created a protein vaccine modeled after an antigen for the foot-and-mouth disease. It can improve animals' immune system and response speed. Products using this technology will bring import substitution effects, which can translate to nearly 60 billion won a year.     The Korea Industrial Technology Association accepts "New Technology Certificate" applications and issues the certificate three times a year, and the third application season for this year starts from September 1, 2015.     * Short version date2015-08-27

Internship opportunities to be available for 300 engineering students

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) announced on August 27 that students of engineering colleges anywhere in South Korea who have applied for a 6-month internship program can work as R&D staff at SME's in different regions. More than 300 students were accepted to the program, which provides a stipend of 1.2 million won ($1,100) a month as well as 12 units.     MOTIE selected 6 businesses that will operate the R&D internship support program in May this year, and r date2015-08-27

Software integrated parts to be selected to turn the key industries into smart industries

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) announced on August 25 that it has selected 20 software integrated parts that are necessary to advance the key industries and turn them into smart industries.     The parts are for wearable devices, OLED, high-quality virtual multimedia, smart sensors, high fuel efficient motors and high-precision controllers that can be used in 13 industrial engines used by self-driving vehicles and intelligent robots.     According to a res date2015-08-25

Bupyeong Industrial Complex celebrates 50th anniversary

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) announced on August 21 that Bupyeong National Industrial Complex is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.     Designated as a National Industrial Complex in 1965 according to the Export Industrial Complex Development Act, the complex located in Changcheon-dong, Bupyeong-gu, Incheon currently houses a total of 761 companies on 610,000㎡ (6.5 mil sqft) of land.     It's the largest industrial complex in Korea for electric and electronics businesses, and 54.3 percent of the entire area is currently occupied by foreign invested companies.     Last year alone, it produced goods worth 2.9 trillion ($ 2.6 billion) and exported 2.8 trillion won worth of goods. There are more than 12,000 people currently working there.     * Short version date2015-08-21

MOTIE Minister Yoon Backs LG Display's Plan to Invest in OLED

MOTIE Minister Yoon Backs LG Display's Plan to Invest in OLED   Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Yoon Sang-jick attended a press conference hosted by LG Display Co. in Paju, South Korea, yesterday.   At the presser, the minister applauded the plan by the world's biggest maker of liquid crystal displays (LCDs) to increase investment in organic light-emitting diode (OLED) displays.   Minister Yoon also pledged the government's continued support for local companies to invest in date2015-08-19

South Korea to Hold Three-Day Special Sale Event for Chinese Online Shoppers

South Korea to Hold Three-Day Special Sale Event for Chinese Online Shoppers   South Korea plans to hold a special sale event called `XingXing Korea' for Chinese online shoppers from August 19 to August 21 as part of efforts to promote exports.   During the three-day event, 17 local online shopping malls will offer discounts of 8 to 50 percent on about 1,700 items ranging from cosmetics to groceries.   Also, the Korea Post will give a discount of 36 percent on international shippi date2015-08-18

South Korea Launches `Korea Grand Sale' for Foreign Tourists

      South Korea has launched the Korea Grand Sale for foreign tourists in an effort to revive the local tourism industry and economy hit by the recent Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) incident.   The sixth annual event is the largest ever as about 250 local companies and 30,000 stores, from airlines to duty-free shops, are offering various shopping benefits and events.   The Korea Grand Sale will run earlier than scheduled from August 14 to October 31, as it is normally held in winter, a relatively less popular season for foreign tourists.   For more information about the Korea Grand Sale, please visit its English website at date2015-08-17