Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy

MOTIE Minister Yoon Speaks at 38th ISO General Assembly

MOTIE Minister Yoon Speaks at 38th ISO General Assembly   Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Yoon Sang-jick delivered a congratulatory speech at the 38th ISO General Assembly held in Seoul earlier this week.   About 700 guests from 162 countries attended this year's gathering, including Zhang Xiaogang, the first Chinese President of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). date2015-09-18

Mobile factory for door-to-door 3D printing services to become available

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) announced on September 18 at KICOX that it can send vehicles mounted with a 3D printer to industrial complexes to produce prototypes, provide technical assistance and offer basic training on 3D printing for the businesses within the complex.     The 3D printing vehicles will be dispatched to various industrial complexes throughout the country in each quarter to provide a wide range of 3D printing services. However, due to limited equipment, manpower and time, industrial complexes must apply for the service at www.kamic.or.kr.     Many businesses are now interested in 3D printing since it can be used to produce complicated structures that are hard to manufacture and produce small quantities of various types of products, but are still hesitant to actually add one to their production line because of the high price and lack of application skills.     In order to promote the application of 3D printers and further upgrade manufacturing technology, MOTIE and local businesses made joint efforts to build a manufacturing center in Ansan, Daejeon and then in Changwon in July last year, and they'll continue to build more in Iksan, Gumi and Gangneung next year.     * Short version date2015-09-18

ROK and EU Hold 5th FTA Trade Committee Meeting

      The Republic of Korea and the European Union (EU) held the Fifth Trade Committee meeting in Seoul today to check the implementation of their bilateral free trade agreement over the past five years.   Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Yoon Sang-jick met with European Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmström before leading their delegations at the committee meeting.   During their meeting, they exchanged views on various trade issues between Korea and the EU, such as technical barriers to trade (TBT), sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) and intellectual property (IP). date2015-09-15

School backpacks found to be 294 times more toxic than they should be

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) announced on September 15 that according to a recent safety test, some school backpacks use 294 times more phthalate plasticizer, an endocrine disrupting chemical, than allowed.     The test conducted by the Korean Agency for Technology and Standards on 334 most-sold products in autumn showed that 7 of the school backpacks have exceeded the safety standards on phthalate plasticizer and cadmium, and the agency ordered a recall of the school backpacks.     The test also showed that one color pencil model also contained too much lead, and one pencil case model had too much phthalate plasticizer. Other products that were recalled include two wheeled walker models for the elderly because they can tip over too easily.     Meanwhile, all portable lawn trimmers passed the safety test.     KATS provides the list of recently recalled products at www.safetykorea.kr, and added product barcodes to the sales blocking system so that they can't be sold at large supermarkets throughout Korea.     * Short version date2015-09-15

South Korea to Hold 2015 ISO General Assembly

South Korea to Hold 2015 ISO General Assembly   South Korea will hold the 2015 ISO General Assembly in Seoul September 16-18, providing a great opportunity for the world of standardization to come together and shape its future.   More than 600 delegates from 163 countries are expected to participate in this global event by the the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).   For more information about the 2015 ISO General Assembly, please visit its English website at ht date2015-09-14

2015 ISO Plenary Meeting to be held in Seoul with 162 countries participating

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) announced on September 14 that the 2015 ISO Plenary Meeting was held from September 14 to 18 at the Lotte Hotel Seoul with the participation of over 700 people from 162 countries.     Along with the IEC and ITU, the ISO has the largest number of standards in various areas.     It's Korea's first time hosting the plenary meeting since it joined the ISO in 1963, where issues such as international standardization policies, strategies between 2016 and 2020 and advantages of standards will be discussed at the meeting.     On the last day of the event, the participants will have a tour of Samsung Electronics and Amore Pacific to see Korean exporter's technology and standard cases.     The ISO is dedicated to develop standards for various areas so that standards can be applied at anytime, anywhere, and South Korea proposes an average of 78 standards a year as one of the 20 ISO Council members that ranks 9th in ISO evaluation.   * Short version date2015-09-14

Deputy Minister Woo Advocates Stronger Business and Industrial Ties Between South Korea and Japan

Deputy Minister Woo Advocates Stronger Business and Industrial Ties Between South Korea and Japan   Deputy Trade Minister Woo Taehee delivered a congratulatory speech at the Korea-Japan Industrial Technology Fair 2015 held in Seoul friday.   In the speech, the deputy minister stressed the need to promote business and industrial cooperation between the two countries. date2015-09-14

MOTIE Minister Yoon Meets with President-Designate of AIIB

      Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Yoon Sang-jick received a visit by Jin Liqun, president-designate of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), at his satellite office in Seoul today.   During the meeting, the two exchanged various ideas on how to facilitate cooperation between South Korea and the China-led AIIB once the new global lending institution is launched. date2015-09-09

South Korea and China Sign MoU for More Cooperation on Quality Inspection of Imports

    South Korea and China signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to strengthen cooperation on the quarantine and quality inspection of their imports last week.   Moon Jae-do, second vice minister at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) attended the signing ceremony held in Beijing, China. date2015-09-08

MOTIE Minister Yoon Visit Russia to Promote Industrial and Energy Cooperation

      Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Yoon Sang-jick attended the Eastern Economic Forum 2015 held in Vladivostok, Russia, last week, as the chief representative of the Republic of Korea.   On the sidelines of the forum, Minister Yoon met with Russia's Energy Minister Novak Alexander to discuss ways to promote industrial and energy cooperation between Korea and the world's largest country.   The Korean minister also signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Aleksandr Galushka, minister of development of the Russian Far East, on providing support to companies in both countries.   For more information about the Eastern Economic Forum 2015, please visit its English website at date2015-09-07