Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy

1,000 Experts Gather in Seoul to Promote Innovation With Graphene

The 2011 Graphene Workshop took place in Seoul last week, drawing about 1,000 scientists and engineers from Korea and abroad.   Graphene is a carbon allotrope, like graphite and diamond. Allotropes differ in the way their atoms are arranged: a sheet of graphene is a honeycomb lattice of carbon atoms. Three million sheets of graphene are about 1 millimeter thick.   Graphene has been in use for less than a decade and is 100 times as strong as steel. It offers twice the thermal conductivity of diamond. Graphene-based transistors are 150 times as fast as silicon-based transistors, and graphene can conduct nearly 1,000 times as much electricity as copper. With applications in the semiconductor, display panel, secondary battery and automobile industries, this up-and-coming material has the potential to lead the world’s industrial development over the next few decades.   With significant graphene production capabilities as well as strength in related industries, Korea aims to take the lead in the global graphene market and is actively pursuing R&D to that end. The purpose of the Graphene Workshop was to encourage cooperation among government bodies, universities and industries to stimulate investment and technology development in this promising material.   * Released by the Metals and Chemicals Division date2011-12-27

Vice Minister Greets British Ambassador

Vice Minister Greets British Ambassador Vice Minister Yoon Sang-Jick speaks with newly appointed British Ambassador Scott Wightman on December 14 in the Gwacheon Government Complex. The two officials discussed cooperation in the science and technology sector and how to use the Korea-EU FTA to promote trade and investment. date2011-12-20

Retail Sales Figures for November

date2011-12-16

Minister Speaks With Japanese Ambassador

Minister Speaks With Japanese Ambassador Minister of Knowledge Economy Sukwoo HONG speaks with Japanese Ambassador Muto Masatoshi on December 12 in Gwacheon. The discussion focused on bilateral cooperation in the parts and materials and gas industries. date2011-12-15

MKE Releases Car Sales Figures for November

MKE Releases Car Sales Figures for November The Ministry of Knowledge Economy has released its car sales figures for November. Despite sluggish domestic demand, strong exports pushed Korea’s car production up 10.1 percent to 428,516 vehicles. Domestic sales declined 12.7 percent to 115,768 vehicles due to weak consumer sentiment and rising fuel prices. Sales of imported cars continued to increase 11.1 percent, recording 9,230 vehicles. Although global economic uncertainty prevails, export date2011-12-09

IT Trade Figures for November

date2011-12-08

Korea, Colombia Discuss Economic Cooperation

Minister of Knowledge Economy Sukwoo HONG greets Vice Minister of Business Development Carlos Andres De Hart Pinto on December 5 in the Gwacheon Government Complex. The two officials discussed bilateral economic cooperation. date2011-12-08

Korea’s Trade Volume Exceeds $1 Trillion

Minister of Knowledge Economy Sukwoo HONG speaks at a press briefing on December 5 to announce that Korea’s trade volume has exceeded the long-awaited goal of $1 trillion ($515 billion in exports and $485 billion in imports). date2011-12-08

Trade Figures for November

date2011-12-05

Korea Takes Off With New Advanced Aircraft

With the new Smart Unmanned Air Vehicle, Korea has succeeded in becoming the second country in the world to develop tilt-rotor aircraft technology. The SUAV, developed by the Korea Aerospace Research Institute over nine years with government support, is capable of vertical takeoff and landing like a helicopter but can fly much faster. It will be used not only for military purposes but also to detect and extinguish forest fires and to monitor traffic, weather and environmental conditions.   KARI and the Ministry of Knowledge Economy showed images of the aircraft in flight at a presentation held November 30. The show drew about 200 people—military personnel, aviation experts, and members of the general public. MKE and KARI plan to carry out further tests to verify the vehicle’s maximum speed, endurance and operational range as well as its ability to avoid collisions.   This milestone is the outcome of intensive research and development to advance Korea’s avionics, data-link and flight control technologies. It proves that Korea is ready to enter the lucrative and growing international unmanned air vehicle market.   * Released by the Machinery, Aerospace and Defense Industries Division date2011-12-02