Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy

Government and refineries to join hands for stabilizing domestic oil prices

Amid rising geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, Trade, Industry and Energy Minister Dukgeun Ahn convened a meeting on May 3 with representatives of refineries, thrift gas station operators, and the Korea National Oil Corporation (KNOC) to discuss measures for stabilizing domestic oil prices.   Minister Ahn remarked that despite the April tailwind of reduced prices and increased exports, the general public is still experiencing financial difficulties. Refinery industry representatives shared the view that public livelihood is in difficulty and agreed to raise the petroleum product supply prices by a minimum, while minimizing price hikes. Thrift gas stations agreed to join in on efforts to lower the sale price of petroleum products to help mitigate the public’s financial burdens.   With aim to crack down on market actors attempting to make illicit gains by taking advantage of high oil prices, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) jointly launched the “Pan-Ministerial Petroleum Market Inspection Group” in October 2023 with the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MOEF), Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT), Korea Fair Trade Commission (KFTC), National Tax Service (NTS) and other organizations.   The thrift gas stations run by KNOC currently sell oil priced at an average of KRW 40 per liter lower compared to other gas stations nationwide. An additional 40 gas stations are to be further designated as thrift gas stations around the capital area and major cities. date2024-05-03

Trade Minister attends Session 2 of OECD MCM 2024

Minister for Trade Inkyo Cheong attended the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Ministerial Council Meeting 2024 Session 2 on May 2 at the OECD headquarters in Paris and discussed measures for free trade and investment to accelerate sound economic growth. date2024-05-03

Trade Minister meets OECD Secretary-General

Minister for Trade Inkyo Cheong met OECD Secretary-General Mathias Cormann on May 2 in Paris to discuss measures for stronger Korea-OECD bilateral cooperation. date2024-05-03

Trade Minister holds roundtable with French investors

Minister for Trade Inkyo Cheong attended a roundtable with French investors on May 2 in Paris and discussed investment cooperation measures with representatives of OPmobility, Airbus, and other automobile and aviation firms. date2024-05-03

Trade Minister meets Renault's International Affairs VP

Minister for Trade Inkyo Cheong met with Bruno Vincent, Vice President of International Affairs at Renault, on May 2 in Paris to discuss measures for cooperation on EV production facility investment. date2024-05-03

Trade Minister visits home appliance retailer Fnac Darty

Minister for Trade Inkyo Cheong visited France’s largest home appliance retailer Fnac Darty on May 2 to inspect Korean home appliance companies’ market presence in France. date2024-05-03

Minister attends “Green Building Conference for Climate Crisis Response”

Trade, Industry and Energy Minister Dukgeun Ahn attended the “Green Building Conference for Climate Crisis Response” on May 2 at the Seoul City Hall to give a congratulatory message and co-signed the memorandum of understanding (MOU) for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of buildings with Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, Land, Infrastructure and Transport Minister Park Sang-woo, and Co-Chairperson of the Presidential Commission on Carbon Neutrality and Green Growth Kim Sang-hyup. date2024-05-03

Trade Minister meets with Korean firms operating in Paris

Minister for Trade Inkyo Cheong held a conference with Korean firms operating in Paris on May 2 at Novotel Paris to discuss measures for global marketing strategies and export assistance in conjunction with the Paris 2024 Olympics. date2024-05-03

Trade Minister discusses investment with NPX's EVP

Minister for Trade Inkyo Cheong met with NPX’s Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer Maarten Dirkzwager on May 1 at NPX Headquarters in the Netherlands to discuss investment prospects of strengthening automobile semiconductor supply chain cooperation and R&D center establishment. date2024-05-03

Trade Minister attends OECD MCM 2024 to discuss sustainable growth

Minister for Trade Inkyo Cheong is attending the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Ministerial Council Meeting 2024 from May 2–3 at the OECD headquarters in Paris as the Co-Chief Delegate of the Korean delegation, jointly led by the Economy and Finance 1st Vice Minister.   The ministerial meetings are to be held over a two-day period in the attendance of representatives from 38 member countries and international organizations, including the World Trade Organization (WTO) under the theme of “Co-creating the Flow of Change: Leading Global Discussion with Objective and Reliable Approach towards Sustainable Growth.”   Trade Minister Cheong will be participating in “Session 2: Promoting Free and Fair Trade and Investment for Accelerating Sound Economic Growth - A Rules-based, Free and Fair International Economic Order,” articulating the Korean government’s major policies and measures for international joint efforts with regard to enhancing inclusiveness and sustainability of free trade and establishing bilateral and multilateral norms and standards for protecting the free trade system amid the rapidly changing trade environment.   In “Session 5: Credible Pathways Towards Sustainable and Inclusive Growth Under the Interlinked Global Crises” to be held on Day 2, he plans to introduce the Carbon Free Energy (CFE) Initiative and other measures proposed by the Korean government for overcoming crises, promoting inclusiveness for stakeholders, and cooperating with the OECD in view of climate change, shrinking biodiversity, and environmental pollution.   On the sidelines of the Council Meeting and sessions, the trade chief will attend the WTO trade ministers’ meeting to highlight the importance of the WTO reform, while also holding bilateral talks with counterparts of other countries. date2024-05-03