Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy

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

Sales Trends by Major Retailers in May 2015

  □ The sales by major retailers, including those of hypermarkets, department stores and convenience stores, rose from a year earlier, while those of super supermarkets fell in May 2015. □ The sales of hypermarkets and department stores increased for two consecutive months while that of convenience stores increased drastically for four consecutive months. □By product group, the sales of food, clothing, popular brands items and others increased.   date2015-06-30

Automobile Industry Trends for May 2015

    □ The volume of South Korean automobile production and exports decreased by 2.1 percent and 3.1 percent, respectively, while domestic sales increased by 2.3%. This was attributed to recession in emerging markets such as Eastern Europe, Middle East, and Latin America, Yen and Euro depreciation, and strong sales of multi-purpose vehicles in the domestic market.   □ : Production decreased by 2.1 percent from a year earlier to 365,643 units. This fall was mainly attributable to reduced domestic sales and exports.   □ : Domestic sales increased by 2.3 percent from a year earlier to 140,538 units. This was attributable to increased demand in multi-purpose vehicles such as Tucson, Sorento, Carnival, and Tivoli.   - Sales of imported cars increased by 17.8 percent from a year earlier to 20,589 units.   □ : Exports decreased by 3.1 percent from a year earlier to 246,093 units. This was mainly attributable to weakened competitive edge due to Yen and Euro depreciation and demand contraction in emerging markets such as Russia and Latin America.   date2015-06-30