The South Korean government has announced plans to expand its focus from trade security, centered on managing strategic materials, to industrial security aimed at protecting industrial competitiveness. This shift comes as competition for technology and resources among major countries intensifies, alongside geopolitical conflicts, making export controls, supply chain stability, and advanced technology protection critical for corporate competitiveness.
On July 9, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy held the '2026 Trade Security Day' event at the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Seoul, attended by over 350 participants, including export companies, relevant agencies, and diplomatic representatives. This year marks the 16th annual celebration of Trade Security Day, which has been held since 2011.
Trade security is increasingly becoming a part of corporate risk management. As sanctions against Russia, advanced technology controls on China, and export controls on critical minerals become more complex, companies that fail to conduct prior item assessments and counterparty checks, or establish internal compliance systems, risk export disruptions and sanctions.
During a pre-event forum, the Industrial Trade Security Forum presented recommendations for 'Trade Security 2.0.' Composed of members from academia, research, and industry, the forum delivered three key policy suggestions to the government: redefining trade security to focus on industrial protection and competitiveness enhancement, promoting proactive trade security negotiation strategies, and ensuring joint responsibility for trade security between the government and private sector.
Additional activities included an international seminar with policy researchers from South Korea, the United States, and Japan, as well as workshops for CP companies, CEO training, and business consultations. The business consultation session featured officials from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy responsible for export permits, major law firms such as Kim & Chang and Pacific, the Trade Security Management Agency, and KOTRA, providing advice on export control systems and response strategies. The Ministry has also introduced a new export control consulting menu within its export voucher program to support companies facing difficulties due to major countries' export controls. This initiative was announced on July 8.
The Ministry plans to continue supporting export companies and relevant agencies in enhancing their trade security capabilities in response to changes in the economic security environment.
Yang Gi-wook, head of the Ministry's Industrial Resource Security Office, stated, 'As competition for technology and resources among major countries and geopolitical conflicts intensify, industrial security that can protect our industry is essential for national competitiveness. While existing trade security focused on managing strategic materials agreed upon in the international system, we will proactively strengthen industrial security through strategic export controls, advanced technology protection, and supply chain stabilization.'
* This article has been translated by AI.
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