Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy

Trade Minister attends Global Net Zero Connection 2024

Minister for Trade Inkyo Cheong attended Global Net Zero Connection 2024 on June 24 in Seoul and signed the cooperation MOU on greenhouse gas (GHG) emission mitigation with the Cambodian Ministry of Environment and Bangladeshi Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change for uncovering joint GHG reduction projects and developing procedures and standards for transferring mitigation outcomes.   Trade Minister Cheong gave a welcome address to the 160 attendees at the event, composed of representatives from Cambodia, Bangladesh, Laos, Kenya, Ghana, Sri Lanka, and Uzbekistan, as well as CEOs of Korean and overseas companies. date2024-06-26

Korea discusses bilateral EPAs with Pakistan, Bangladesh, Serbia, and Dominican Republic

Minister for Trade Inkyo Cheong held a conference on June 26 with the ambassadors to Korea of Pakistan, Bangladesh, Serbia, and the Dominican Republic to discuss measures for forging bilateral Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs).   MOTIE is currently making effort to diversify supply chains and secure critical mineral resources through flexible and extensive cooperation via EPAs, with plans to further expand the trade network to cover a wider range of emerging markets following Georgia, Mongolia, Thailand, and Tanzania, countries with which Korea is presently engaging in negotiations for bilateral EPAs.   Trade Minister Cheong stated that Pakistan, Bangladesh, Serbia, and the Dominican Republic “hold prominent strategic value in terms of population, growth potential, and resources,” and added that Korea intends to enlarge the scope of economic cooperative ties with these countries in various areas through EPAs.   The four countries’ ambassadors to Korea agreed to actively cooperate in pushing for bilateral EPAs, sharing the view that the Agreements will serve as a firm institutional foundation for not only trade and investment growth but also for the fundamental development of their economic cooperative relations. date2024-06-26

Minister Ahn attends Korea-U.S. Networking Reception

Trade, Industry and Energy Minister Dukgeun Ahn attended the Korea-U.S. Networking Reception on June 25 in Washington D.C. and gave a congratulatory message in the presence of 130 attendees, including U.S. Deputy Secretary of Commerce Don Graves, representatives of both countries’ governments, related associations, and business figures. date2024-06-26

Minister Ahn meets Special Presidential Advisor for the Americas

Trade, Industry and Energy Minister Dukgeun Ahn met former U.S. senator and incumbent Special Presidential Advisor for the Americas Chris Dodd on June 25 in Washington D.C. on the margins of the first Korea-U.S.-Japan trilateral industrial ministerial and discussed Korea-U.S. trade, investment, supply chain and economic cooperation. date2024-06-26

Minister Ahn meets Deputy Secretary of U.S. Department of Energy

Trade, Industry and Energy Minister Dukgeun Ahn met with Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Energy David M. Turk on June 25 in Washington D.C. on the margins of the first Korea-U.S.-Japan trilateral industrial ministerial and discussed measures for stronger Korea-U.S. energy cooperation. date2024-06-26

Minister Ahn meets UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade

Trade, Industry and Energy Minister Dukgeun Ahn met with UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi on June 25 in Washington D.C. on the margins of the first Korea-U.S.-Japan trilateral industrial ministerial and discussed Korea-UAE trade and investment, bilateral CEPA prospects, and ratification timeline.   date2024-06-26

International Light Convergence Expo 2024 launches at KINTEX, Ilsan

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) is holding the opening ceremony of the International Light Convergence Expo 2024 (June 26–28) at KINTEX in Ilsan on June 26.   Now in its 22nd year as Korea’s largest light convergence industry exhibition, International Light Convergence Expo 2024 is launched with the participation of 150 relevant companies and institutions.   The Expo will be running buyer consultation sessions to support new market entry, showcase Korea’s latest light convergence technologies, and facilitate discussions on business strategies through an industrial forum.   Based on LED and laser technology, light convergence creates technological and market value through convergence with other industries and serves as a key foundational technology for ushering in future and advanced industries’ new sectors.   The opening ceremony is attended by 60 persons, including lawmaker Kim Sung-won, MOTIE officials, and related companies and institutions’ representatives. Contributors to the light convergence sector are awarded government commendations for developing new technologies and achieving other advancements.   The Presidential Commendation Award goes to Optoelec for developing ultrasmall optical devices for semiconductor manufacturing and the Prime Minister’s Commendation to SCL for developing high-efficiency smart lighting technology. The MOTIE Minister’s Commendation is awarded to four researchers at KIEL Institute for their contribution to the light convergence industry’s technological development. date2024-06-26

Minister Ahn meets with Brookings Institution President

Trade, Industry and Energy Minister Dukgeun Ahn met with Brookings Institution President Cecilia Elena Rouse on June 24 in Washington D.C. on the margins of the first Korea-U.S.-Japan trilateral industrial ministerial and discussed Korea’s strategic measures regarding major U.S. technologies and industries. date2024-06-26

Minister Ahn discusses Korea-U.S. cooperation with former U.S. representative

Trade, Industry and Energy Minister Dukgeun Ahn met with former U.S. representative Edwin Perlmutter on June 24 in Washington D.C. on the margins of the first Korea-U.S.-Japan trilateral industrial ministerial and discussed measures for Korea-U.S. trade, investment, and supply chain cooperation. date2024-06-26

Korea’s retail industry grows 8.8% in May

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) announced on June 25 that Korea’s retail industry grew 8.8 percent year-on-year in May 2024, with offline and online sales advancing 0.9 percent and 16.5 percent, respectively.   MOTIE releases monthly retail sales figures based on surveys of 25 major retailers. Thirteen of them are brick-and-mortar retailers: three department store chains, three hypermarket chains, three convenience store chains, and four super supermarket (SSMs) operators. The remaining 12 are online retailers.   Offline sales showed an uptick despite the sales decline across hypermarkets and department stores, as sales climbed at convenience stores and SSMs.   By offline retail channel, hypermarket sales dropped 3.1 percent as sales of most items decreased except for food products (up 2.9 percent), with home appliances/culture (down 19.1 percent), sports (down 14.2 percent), and miscellaneous goods (down 12.9 percent) shrinking.   Department store sales slid 0.1 percent despite the growth of food products (up 3.9 percent) and household goods (up 3.8 percent), as men’s clothing (down 9.3 percent), women’s suits (down 7.2 percent), and kids/sports (down 3.6 percent) dropped.   Convenience stores (up 4.1 percent) saw sales growth across all items, including miscellaneous goods (up 4.4 percent) and daily necessities (up 4.0 percent). Cost-effective food items like beverages/processed food products (up 5.1 percent), and instant food products (up 2.0 percent) also enjoyed robust demand.   SSM operators gained 4.8 percent despite the fall in non-food products like daily necessities (down 5.7 percent) and miscellaneous goods (down 0.4 percent), as increasing demand for home cooking boosted sales of agricultural, fishery, and livestock items (up 8.1 percent) and processed food products (up 5.3 percent).   Online sales soared 16.5 percent as various discount promotion events were launched amid the global e-commerce competition, driving sales of food products (up 26.1 percent), service/other (up 55.9 percent), and a majority of other items, with the exception of fashion/clothing (down 13.8 percent) and sports (down 4.3 percent). Demand for travel, performance, delivery services, and frozen food products expanded, leading to steep sales growth of cost-effective and bulk food items. date2024-06-25