Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy

Korean companies to meet with global European companies including Benz for technology partnership

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) announced on June 22 that Korean companies will hold talks with leading European companies such as Benz, Volkswagen, Volvo and Airbus on issues of cooperation at the 'Overseas Technology Connect for Ppuri Industries' held by the MOTIE and KOTRA on June 23 and 24 in Frankfurt, Germany.     The purpose of the event is to provide outstanding Korean companies with an opportunity to meet global companies so that they can make entry into the date2015-06-22

South Korea to Develop Electric Mini Cars by 2017

      South Korea plans to develop and commercialize electric mini vehicles by 2017 in a bid to keep up with the global race toward the micro-mobility industry for the future, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) said today.   The country's central and regional governments are spending a total of 40 billion won (US $36 million) over the three years starting from 2014 to develop these eco-friendly cars on four and three wheels, which can be customized for people in need like the elderly and handicapped.   The MOTIE is working as a team with government, academic and industry experts to study the most effect ways to improve the relevant laws and systems for the development and commercialization of electric mini vehicles as well as their industrial ecosystem. date2015-06-15

South Korea’s Team KAIST Wins 2015 DARPA Robotics Challenge with $2 Million Prize

South Korea’s Team KAIST Wins 2015 DARPA Robotics Challenge with $2 Million Prize   A team of roboticists from the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) won a $2 million prize challenge to develop a mobile robot capable of assisting humans in responding to natural and man-made disasters.   Team KAIST beat 24 other competing teams of university and corporate roboticists from around the world at the challenge, which was first proposed in 2012 by the Pentagon&rs date2015-06-09

MOTIE Launches Website for 3D Printing Design Sellers and Buyers

      The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) launched an internet website () this week that provides a market platform for buyers and sellers of 3D printing design files.   The MOTIE expects the new website will help build an easier and healthier distribution system for 3D printing design files, which are increasingly used in various areas such as healthcare and education.   date2015-06-04

Sales Trends by Major Retailers in April 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 had no change or fell marginally, respectively in April 2015.   □By product group, the sales of food rose while those of miscellaneous goods and clothing fell.   date2015-05-30

Automobile Industry Trends for April 2015

    □ The volume of South Korean automobile production and exports decreased by 2.2 percent and 6.0 percent, respectively, while domestic sales increased by 3.4%. This was attributed to economic recession in emerging markets and strong sales of multi-purpose vehicles in the domestic market.   □ : Production decreased by 2.2 percent from a year earlier to 424,402 units. This fall was mainly attributable to economic recession in emerging markets such as Russia, Latin America, and Middle East. Also, weakened competitive edge due to Yen and Euro depreciation contributed as well.   □ : Domestic sales increased by 3.4 percent from a year earlier to 152,834 units. This was attributable to new model launches such as Tucson and Tivoli as well as increase in demand in multi-purpose vehicles.   - Sales of imported cars increased by 14.7 percent from a year earlier to 20,831 units.   □ : Exports decreased by 6.0 percent from a year earlier to 282,019 units. This was attributable to weakened competitive edge due to Yen and Euro depreciation, demand contraction in emerging markets such as Russia, Latin America, and Middle East.   date2015-05-30

International standards to be applied on domestic nanodevices

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) and Korea Agency for Technology and Standards announced on May 26 that they plan to support the commercialization of a nanodevice developed by the Korean medium-sized business HCT by applying international standards on it.     The core technology of the nanoparticle generator is to assess the toxicity of the nanoparticles absorbed and evenly distribute the nanoparticles.     The toxicity index evaluation equipment is used to test the "inhalation toxicity" that affects the respiratory system when nanoparticles are inhaled through the nose.     There are already international standards for the nanoparticle generation and monitoring methods.     HTC is currently performing well both in the domestic and overseas markets through a series of international standardization activities, as it expects to achieve 17 billion won ($15 million)  in domestic sales and 3 billion won in exports.     Devices that are developed in Korea but conform to international standards can help boost the domestic market by replacing imported devices that are 2.5 to 3 times more expensive than the domestic counterpart. Furthermore, Korean companies can export more once made-in-Korea products gain global recognition.     The Korean Agency for Technology and Standards plans to support the international standardization of technologies developed by Korean SME's such as HTC.     * Short version date2015-05-26

MOTIE Hosts Korea Eureka Day 2015

    The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) is hosting the Korea Eureka Day 2015 ( from May 20 to May 22 in Seoul with the Swiss EUREKA Chairmanship.   The 6th annual event, organised by the Korea Institute for Advancement of Technology (KIAT), attracted about 200 technology professionals from 22 member nations of EUREKA and 400 from local institutions.   Founded in 1985, EUREKA is an intergovernmental organisation for market-driven industrial research and development (R&D), which integrates over 40 European economies across Europe, but also includes Israel, South Korea, and Canada.   To find more about EUREKA, please visit its website at date2015-05-21

Alibaba to Launch Korea Pavilion on Tmall

        Chinese eCommerce giant Alibaba Group Holding Ltd announced yesterday the launch of a Korea Pavillion ((, China's largest web retailer.   The Korea Pavillion is the first official online country pavilion that will help Chinese consumers shop for Korean products as well as get travel and cultural information.   's Korea Pavilion, in partnership with the Korea International Trade Association (KITA), offers Korean merchants a dedicated online platform to tap into the Chinese market.   For more details, please check out the press release by the Alibaba: date2015-05-20

Electricity Sales and Retail Sales Trends in March 2015

  □ In March, the volume of South Korea's electricity sales for industrial use decreased from a year earlier despite an increase of a day operated. It is because of fall in steel and textile. The total volume of electricity sales also increased from the previous year due to the rise in heating load and the days operated.   □ Regarding sales by major retailers reported in March, the sales of hypermarkets, department stores, and super supermarkets decreased, because of fewer days operated and drop in clothing sales.   ㅇIn the first quarter of 2015, the sales of hypermarkets, department stores, and super supermarkets decreased, while the sales of convenience stores increased.   date2015-04-30