Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy

South Korea Hosts 10th International Standards Olympiad

South Korea Hosts 10th International Standards Olympiad   The Korean Agency for Technology and Standards (KATS) is hosting the 10th International Standards Olympiad in Seoul from August 6 to 7.   For more information about this tournament for teenage students, please visit its English website at: http://standards-olympiad.kr/eng/index.asp date2015-08-06

South Korean Scientists Develop Robot That Walks on Water

      A South Korean-led team of global scientists have developed a robot that can walk and jump on water like an insect, according to a paper published in Science magazine ().   Mimicking the natural secrets of insects like the water strider, the robot can support its weight and even leap without breaking the surface tension of water.   The researchers solved the mystery of how the so-called "Jesus bugs" support themselves on water by carefully studying their motions using high-speed cameras.   Scientists are already imagining a whole host of uses for the robot, ranging from surveilance to enviornmental monitoring to disaster relief.   To find out more about this robotics breakthrough and its possible applications, check out the report in Popular Science magazine: date2015-08-04

South Korea Opens First Paid Charging Station for Electric Cars

South Korea Opens First Paid Charging Station for Electric Cars   South Korea opened its first paid charging station for electric vehicles yesterday as the country pushes forward with its plan to develop energy-related new industries and reduce carbon emissions.   Chung Yang-ho, deputy minister for energy and resources at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE), attended the opening ceremony for the new station in Jeju Island, the Hawaii of Korea.   Major local companie date2015-07-24

South Korea's Renault Samsung to Develop Super Fuel-Efficient Electric Car

South Korea's Renault Samsung to Develop Super Fuel-Efficient Electric Car   South Korea's Renault Samsung Motors Co. plans to develop an electric car within three years that can drive more than 300 km (186 miles) on a single charge.   The plan was unveiled at the 7th Private-Government Consultative Meeting on Energy-Related New Industries held in Seoul earlier this week, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) said in a statement.   Renault Samsung Motors, the local un date2015-07-23

The MOTIE's New Spokesman Debuts with First Weekly Media Briefing

      The MOTIE's newly-appointed spokesperson Sung Yun-mo made his first weekly media briefing on the ministry's key announcements and activities this week.   Prior to the new post, Sung, 52, was director-general for policy planning at the ministry, and started his public career after passing the Public Administration Examination in 1988.   His predecessor Park Won-joo was promoted to the post of the MOTIE's deputy minister for planning and coordination. date2015-07-21

The total number of female researchers at corporate research centers to surpass 46,000

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) announced on July 13 that according to a survey by the Korea Industrial Technology Association, the total number of female researchers at corporate research centers as of June 2015 reached 46,032, which is over 2,700 more than the end of last year. At this rate, the increment is likely to reach over 4,400 by this year, exceeding that of last year.     Compared to their male counterpart, more female researchers have a master's or PhD degree, As of June this year, the number of female researchers with a master's degree has increased by 15.0 percent and those with a PhD degree has increased by 9.6 percent compared to the end of last year.     The Korean government put the MOTIE in charge of increasing the number of female researchers in various industries and the MOTIE has been making multilateral efforts to open childcare centers at industrial complexes for working moms and provide female middle school, high school and college students with an opportunity to visit the industrial sites.     The MOTIE plans to host a job forum for female researchers that have away from work and open the "Industrial R&D Academy" to support those wishing to come back to work.     * Short version date2015-07-13

MOTIE VM Lee Attends GE Innovation Forum 2015

      The MOTIE's 1st Vice Minister Lee Kwan-sup delivered a congratulatory speech at GE Innovation Forum 2015 in Seoul this week.   The forum discussed a new growth strategy for South Korea, attracting 500 local business and opinion leaders, including Kwon Tae-shin, president of the Korea Economic Research Institute (KERI).   To find more information, please visit the annual forum's website at date2015-07-10

Automobile Industry Trends in the First Half of 2015

    □ Domestic sales of South Korean automobiles in the first half of 2015 increased by 6.2 percent from a year earlier. Automobile production and exports decreased by 0.9 percent and 3.0 percent, respectively.   □ : Production decreased by 0.9 percent from a year earlier to 2,321,840 units, despite a rise in domestic sales. This was mainly attributable to a decline in exports, especially to emerging markets suffering from slowing economies.   □ : Home-based sales increased by 6.2 percent from a year earlier to 857,169 units. Sales of multi-purpose and imported vehicles were especially strong.   - Sales of domestically-produced cars rose by 3.4 percent from a year earlier to 727,155. Multi-purpose vehicles, such as SUVs and mini-vans, were in especially high demand.   - Sales of imported cars maintained their high rate of growth, recording their largest-ever sales in the first half of 2015.   □ : Exports decreased by 3.0 percent from a year earlier to 1,551,982 units. This was mostly attributable to economic slowdowns in emerging markets and lowered price competitiveness following the depreciation of the yen and the euro. It also happened in spite of higher exports to North America.   date2015-07-06

MOTIE Hosts NANO KOREA 2015

    The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) hosted NANO KOREA 2014, the 13th International Nanotech Symposium & Nano-Convergence Expo in Korea, from July 1 to July 3 in Seoul.   About 372 companies from 16 countries and 5,077 participants from 30 countries around the world attended the 13th annual event, which is co-hosted by .   Hwang Gyu-yeon, deputy minister of , gave a congratulatory speech on the first day of the event, which aims to promote business and industrial opportunities for nanotechnology.   To find more information about NANO KOREA 2015 with this year's theme of "Nanotechnology, the Engine of Creative Economy," please visit its English website at date2015-07-03

MOTIE Minister Yoon Meets with Qualcomm Chairman

      Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Yoon Sang-jick received a visit by Paul E. Jacobs, executive chairman of Qualcomm, at his satellite office in Seoul earlier this week.   The two discussed ways to promote cooperation between South Korea and the world's largest supplier of mobile chips in the areas of investment and future growth engine industries like semiconductors, mobile telecommunications, Internet of Things (IoT), and robotics.   Minister Yoon also met with Robert S. Franklin, president of Exxon Mobil Gas and Power Marketing Co., yesterday to discuss cooperation in energy resources and industrial technology. date2015-07-02