DECREE ON ORGANIZATION OF THE MINISTRY OF TRADE, INDUSTRY AND RESOURCES AND INSTITUTIONS UNDER ITS JURISDICTION

Article 1(Purpose) #

The purpose of this Decree is to prescribe the organization of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources and institutions under its jurisdiction, the scope of their duties and other necessary matters.

Article 2(Institutions under jurisdiction) #

(1) The Korean Agency for Technology and Standards, the Planning Office of Free Economic Zone, and the Mining Registration Office shall be established under the jurisdiction of the Minister of Trade, Industry and Resources to support the Minister in conducting administrative affairs under his or her supervision.

(2) Free trade zone offices and mining safety offices shall be established under the jurisdiction of the Minister of Trade, Industry and Resources to take charge of administrative affairs within his or her mandate.

Article 3(Duties) #

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources shall be responsible for administrative affairs relating to commerce, trade, industry, trade negotiations, overall control and coordination of trade negotiations, foreign investment, middle-standing enterprises, industrial technology research and development policies, nuclear power export, and the resource industry.

Article 4(Subordinate organizations) #

(1) A Deputy Minister for Trade shall be assigned to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources to assist the Minister and the Minister for Trade with respect to trade affairs.

(2) The General Services and Personnel Division, the Office of Industrial Policy, the Office of Industry and Growth, the Office of Industry, Trade and Resource Security, and the Office of the Minister for Trade shall be established in the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources. <Amended on Dec. 30, 2025>

(3) A Spokesperson, a Director General for Audit and Inspection, and 3 Policy Advisors shall be assigned to the Minister, and the Head of the Office of Planning and Coordination shall be assigned to the Vice Minister. <Amended on Dec. 30, 2025>

Article 5(Deputy Minister for Trade) #

(1) The Deputy Minister for Trade shall be appointed from among public officials in general service belonging to the Senior Executive Service.

(2) The Deputy Minister for Trade shall assist the Minister and the Minister for Trade in the following matters:

1. Establishment and implementation of trade policies, and integration and coordination thereof;

2. Trade negotiations and overall control and coordination of trade negotiations;

3. Handling of the matters designated by the Minister and the Minister for Trade.

Article 6(Spokesperson) #

(1) The spokesperson shall be appointed from among public officials in general service belonging to the Senior Executive Service.

(2) The Spokesperson shall assist the Minister in the following matters:

1. Formulation and coordination of public relations plans for major policies, and support for the public relations activities of relevant agencies;

2. Management of various information and situations related to public relations for policies;

3. Management of external policy announcements regarding business affairs within the Ministry;

4. Matters concerning verification and analysis of media reports and response thereto;

5. Matters concerning support for media coverage and briefings;

6. Overall control, inspection and evaluation of social media policy communication, such as designation and operation of an online spokesperson;

7. Other matters related to the press.

Article 7(Director General for Audit and Inspection) #

(1) The Director General for Audit and Inspection shall be appointed from among public officials in general service belonging to the Senior Executive Service.

(2) The Director General for Audit and Inspection shall assist the Minister in the following matters:

1. Conduct of audits of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources, institutions under its jurisdiction and subordinate organizations;

2. Handling of the results of audits conducted by other agencies for the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources, institutions under its jurisdiction and subordinate organizations;

3. Investigation and handling of petitions and matters concerning misconduct;

4. Maintenance of statistics on audits and analysis of matters concerning misconduct;

5. Operation of the code of conduct for public officials;

6. Matters concerning the registration and examination of property of public officials of the Ministry and reporting on military service;

7. Handling of other matters assigned by the Minister regarding audits.

Article 8(Policy advisor to the Minister) #

(1) One of the policy advisors to the Minister shall be appointed from among public officials in extraordinary civil service belonging to the Senior Executive Service, and 2 of them from among public officials in extraordinary civil service equivalent to Grade III or IV; provided, under special circumstances, they may be replaced by public officials in general service belonging to the Senior Executive Service or at least Grade IV public officials in general service.

(2) Policy advisors to the Minister shall assist the Minister in the following matters:

1. Research and review of the matters assigned by the Minister;

2. Facilitating the participation of experts, interested parties, the general public, etc. in national affairs and collecting opinions on policy tasks;

3. Cooperation with institutions providing policy support for relevant ministries;

4. Planning and operation of the Minister's social media messages.

Article 9(Office of Planning and Coordination) #

(1) 2 persons shall be assigned to the Head of the Office of Planning and Coordination as assisting entities for the Head of Office or Head of Bureau (hereinafter referred to as "Directors General, etc."), from among assisting bodies under Article 12 of Common Rules of the Organization and the Prescribed Number of Personnel of Administrative Agencies.

(2) The Head of the Office of Planning and Coordination and one of the Directors General, etc. shall be a public official in general service belonging to the Senior Executive Service; and the other of the Directors General, etc. shall be a public official in a fixed-term position belonging to the Senior Executive Service.

(3) The Head of the Office of Planning and Coordination shall assist the Vice Minister in the following matters: <Amended on Dec. 30, 2025>

1. Establishment, integration and coordination of industrial, trade and resources policies, and examination and analysis of the results;

2. Policy cooperation with external agencies, such as the National Assembly;

3. Policy cooperation with external agencies, such as the National Assembly;

4. Management of national tasks and instructions given by the President, the Prime Minister, etc.;

5. Management of public institutions and organizations under the control of the Ministry;

6. Overall control of and support for the affairs of change management within the Ministry, such as improvement of business processing procedures and behavioral changes of the members of the organization;

7. Management of the organization and prescribed number of public officials through organizational diagnosis and evaluation;

8. Affairs for the improvement of systems related to civil petitions (including public proposals) and customer satisfaction;

9. Identification and selection of tasks related to government innovation within the Ministry, and monitoring, inspection and management of the progress;

10. Establishment, overall control, and coordination of performance management plans;

11. Matters concerning the improvement of systems related to performance management and the evaluation of policies;

12. Overall control of the entrustment of State affairs of the Ministry to the private sector, such as management and supervision thereof;

13. Matters concerning the expansion of citizens' participation in industry, trade, and resources administration;

14. Review, overall control, and coordination of agenda items for the State Council and the Vice-Ministers' Meeting;

15. Deleted; <December 30, 2025>

16. Overall control of legal affairs, such as drafting and examination of draft statutes or regulations, and handling of inquiries, replies, and legal advice regarding statutes or regulations under jurisdiction;

17. Overall control of administrative affairs regarding administrative appeals and litigation;

18. Establishment and implementation of informatization plans of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, and overall control and coordination of informatization affairs and budget;

19. Matters concerning the operation and management of information resources and the improvement of business processing methods utilizing information technology;

20. Matters concerning the promotion of provision and use of public data within the Ministry;

21. Matters concerning the promotion of data-based administration within the Ministry;

22. Matters concerning information security and protection of personal information;

23. Overall control and coordination of cyber security affairs of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources, institutions under its jurisdiction and relevant agencies;

24. Establishment and operation of trade-related domestic information and communications networks and information systems under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy;

25. Affairs concerning the establishment and coordination of various plans in preparation for national emergencies and emergency drills of the Government;

26. Facilities security for major national facilities of the institutions under the control of the Ministry;

27. Management of workplace reserve forces and workplace civil defense units;

28. Overall control and coordination of crisis, disaster and safety management in the field of industry, trade and resources;

29. Matters concerning the operation of the general situation center for crisis, disaster, and safety management;

30. Establishment and operation of a linkage system with safety management and disaster and crisis management agencies;

31. Overall control and management of safety and health-related affairs in connection with serious industrial accidents within the Ministry.

Article 10 #

Deleted. <Dec. 30, 2025>

Article 11(General Services and Personnel Division) #

(1) The Head of the General Services and Personnel Division shall be appointed from among Grade III or IV public officials.

(2) The Head of the General Services and Personnel Division shall take charge of the following:

1. Appointment, service, education and training, human resource development, and other personnel affairs of public officials;

2. Security and management of official seals and official seals register;

3. Security audits and security inspections of the Ministry, institutions under its jurisdiction and relevant agencies;

4. Matters concerning the working conditions and welfare of public officials of the Ministry;

5. Matters concerning public officials' organizations within the Ministry, such as the public officials' labor union;

6. Classification, collection, preservation, transfer and utilization of records, and storage and management of administrative data, such as books;

7. Receipt and handling of requests for disclosure of information;

8. Purchasing and procurement of commodities;

9. Management of State property and commodities;

10. Operation, accounting, and settlement of accounts of funds;

11. Other matters not falling under the jurisdiction of other departments within the Ministry.

Article 12(Office of Industrial Policy) #

(1) The Office of Industrial Policy shall be headed by one person, who shall be assisted by 4 Directors General, etc.

(2) The Head of the Office and 4 Directors General, etc. shall be appointed from among public officials in general service belonging to the Senior Executive Service.

(3) The Head of the Office shall take charge of the following: <Amended on Dec. 30, 2025>

1. Establishment and promotion of industrial development policies;

2. Improvement of industrial competitiveness and sophistication of industrial structure;

3. Establishment and implementation of measures to link industrial policies with policies for individual types of business;

4. Establishment and implementation of policies for establishing the foundation for the development of major industries and promising industries and spread thereof;

5. Formulation and implementation of policies for fostering and promoting major industries and promising industries, and promotion of innovation and sophistication of industries through technology development and utilization;

6. Overall control and coordination of pending trade issues by business type and matters concerning domestic countermeasures;

7. Establishment, coordination, and promotion of measures to link trade policies with pending trade issues by business type;

8. Establishment and implementation of policies for facilitating investment in the industrial sector;

9. Matters concerning the industrial support system for enterprises in terms of finance, taxation, etc.;

10. Analysis and evaluation of the international competitiveness of industries;

11. Changes in domestic and global environments and policies concerning industries, trade, resources, etc., and analysis of trends by industry and type of business;

12. Integration and coordination of statistics affairs within the Ministry and the implementation of self-assessment of the quality of statistics;

13. Overall control and management of matters concerning the preparation, dissemination and utilization of statistics under jurisdiction;

14. Establishment and implementation of policies to improve the environment and systems related to corporate activities;

15. Matters concerning sustainable management and social responsibility of corporations;

16. Matters concerning the promotion of corporate restructuring;

17. Establishment and implementation of corporate business restructuring policies;

18. Establishment and implementation of policies for creating jobs in the industrial sector;

19. Establishment and implementation of policies to improve efficiency in supply of and demand for human resources by industrial sector for industrial innovation;

20. Analysis of employment and labor-management trends in the industrial sector and improvement of systems;

21. Establishment and promotion of measures for the innovation of industries and enterprises;

22. Establishment and implementation of policies on the innovation of production processes of enterprises;

23. Establishment and promotion of measures to improve productivity of industries and enterprises;

24. Establishment and implementation of environment-related industrial policies for sustainable industrial development;

25. Matters concerning the development and dissemination of clean production technology in industrial circles, the fostering of the environmental equipment manufacturing industry, and the development of technology;

26. Operation of systems in accordance with international environmental conventions and promotion of policies for the domestic industrial circles to better respond to international environmental regulations;

27. Innovation of the productivity of resources (excluding wastes), establishment of eco-industrial complexes, and fostering of re-manufacturing industries for the creation of a resources-circulating economic society;

28. Matters concerning the promotion of green management, cleaner production consulting, and servitization projects;

29. Establishment and adjustment of a master plan for the reduction of greenhouse gases in the industrial sector;

30. Financial and tax support and system improvement to facilitate the reduction of greenhouse gases in the industrial sector;

31. Operation, management, and supervision of the carbon market in which the reduction records of the industrial sector registered in the registry of greenhouse gas reduction records are traded;

32. Matters concerning offering incentives, creating demand, etc. for revitalizing the carbon market in which the reduction records of the industrial sector registered in the registry of greenhouse gas reduction records are traded;

33. Creation and operation of carbon funds for the industrial sector to invest in greenhouse gas reduction projects;

34. Investigation of greenhouse gas reduction measures and technologies in the industrial sector, and analysis of reduction potential;

35. Institutional support for enterprises in setting and implementing voluntary greenhouse gas reduction targets, such as through the operation of industry-specific task forces focusing on energy- intensive sectors;

36. Preparation of statistics on greenhouse gas emissions in the industrial process and development of standards;

37. Matters concerning the offsetting of emissions, such as the certification of greenhouse gas reduction from external projects in the industrial sector;

38. Matters concerning the domestic implementation of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (hereinafter referred to as the "Convention on Climate Change") in the industrial sector;

39. Establishment of measures to adapt to climate change in the industrial sector;

40. Establishment of a master plan for responding to climate change in the industrial sector;

41. Fostering professional human resources in the industrial and trade sectors to respond to climate change, such as through the operation of specialized graduate schools for climate change;

42. Operation of the greenhouse gas target management system, including the setting and management of greenhouse gas reduction targets for the industrial sector;

43. Matters concerning response to and cooperation on energy policies and systems related to industries and enterprises;

44. Formulation and implementation of policies for the promotion of regional industries and regional economic revitalization, including mega-economic regions;

45. Overall control over the formulation of a 5-year plan for balanced national development and preparation of annual reports on balanced national development;

46. Analysis and evaluation of regional economic and industrial trends across Cities/Dos and mega-economic regions, and establishment of regional statistical information base;

47. Creation of a foundation for regional innovation, such as through the fostering of professional human resources and the expansion of production infrastructure via industry-academia-research cooperation;

48. Composition and operation of regional innovation councils and support therefor;

49. Establishment of, and support for, innovation cluster plans;

50. Establishment and operation of an integrated platform for regional innovation;

51. Establishment of industry-academia-research cooperation system utilizing public institutions of innovative cities;

52. Operation of regional development investment agreements;

53. Matters concerning the facilitation of regional investment;

54. Establishment and implementation of policies for promoting the relocation of enterprises and affiliated public institutions to non-metropolitan areas and fostering investment in such areas;

55. Designation and operation of special districts for industrial crisis response;

56. Promotion of supra-regional cooperation projects between Cities and Dos;

57. Establishment and implementation of policies and plans on the managerial and structural sophistication of industrial complexes and industrial clustering;

58. Selection and operation of mutually beneficial regional job models;

59. Matters concerning disaster and safety management for industrial complexes;

60. Matters concerning measures for industrial location related to the Seoul Metropolitan Area and the demand for industrial location;

61. Fostering and promotion of the transportation system industries, such as automobiles;

62. Matters concerning the convergence of transportation systems, such as automobiles, and their components industries with other industries and strengthening of their competitiveness;

63. Matters concerning external cooperation, such as expansion of exports related to the automobile industry, response to pending trade issues, and support for overseas investment;

64. Matters concerning the development of environment-friendly automobiles;

65. Support for the establishment of charging infrastructure, such as through the development of charging technologies for eco-friendly vehicles;

66. Matters concerning fostering the autonomous vehicle industry;

67. Response to global regulations in the future automobile sector;

68. Establishment and implementation of policies to foster the shipbuilding industry and its equipment and materials industry, such as laying the foundation and developing technologies therefor;

69. Formulation and implementation of policies to foster the offshore plant industry [limited to the offshore plant industry related to energy and resource development, such as oil, gas, offshore wind power, and gas hydrate (referring to solid energy produced by combining natural gas with water at low temperature and high pressure; hereinafter the same shall apply); hereafter the same shall apply in this paragraph] and the equipment and materials industry thereof, such as laying the foundation and developing technologies therefor;

70. Fostering the plant industry, strengthening its competitiveness, and supporting its overseas expansion;

71. Matters concerning structural sophistication, such as the convergence of technologies and the promotion of knowledge-based industries in the shipbuilding, offshore plant and plant industries and the equipment and materials industries thereof;

72. Matters concerning external cooperation, such as expansion of exports related to the shipbuilding, offshore plant and plant industries and the equipment and materials industries thereof, response to pending trade issues, and support for overseas investment;

73. Matters concerning the development of environment-friendly ships;

74. Establishment and implementation of policies for fostering the service industry related to the manufacturing industry (hereinafter referred to as the "knowledge service industry") and facilitating servitization of the manufacturing industry, and the creation of industrial foundation, such as technology development and commercialization;

75. Fostering the e-learning and e-training industries;

76. Establishment and promotion of measures to improve the productivity of the knowledge service industry and international cooperation, such as trade promotion, foreign investment attraction, overseas investment support, and technology exchanges;

77. Establishment and implementation of policies for promoting the engineering industry and laying the foundation therefor;

78. Establishment and implementation of policies for fostering and promoting the design and brand industry;

79. Informatization, statistical surveys, and international cooperation related to the design and brand industry;

80. Matters concerning the strengthening of competitiveness by creating a foundation for industrial design, such as fostering specialized human resources, and promoting research and development;

81. Formulation and implementation of policies for fostering the consumer products industry;

82. Informatization, statistical surveys, and international cooperation related to the consumer products industry;

83. Establishment and implementation of policies to support the defense industry and civil-military technical cooperation projects, and the operation and improvement of statutes or regulations related to civil-military technical cooperation projects;

84. Matters concerning the convergence of the defense industry with other industries and the enhancement of its competitiveness;

85. Export support and international cooperation for the defense industry;

86. Overall control of policies related to middle-standing enterprises, such as fostering of middle-standing enterprises by business type;

87. Matters concerning statutes or regulations, budgets, and projects related to middle-standing enterprises;

88. Linkage between industrial policies and policies for middle-standing enterprises, small and medium enterprises, and venture businesses;

89. Support for middle-standing enterprises in terms of technological innovation and research and development;

90. Matters concerning the promotion of export of middle-standing enterprises;

91. Support for middle-standing enterprises in terms of human resources and financing;

92. Analysis and removal of factors hindering the growth of middle-standing enterprises;

93. Matters concerning policies for facilitating growth, such as business diversification for middle-standing enterprises, mergers and acquisitions, etc.;

94. Support for middle-standing enterprises in terms of restructuring and management soundness;

95. Establishment and implementation of policies for advancement of the distribution structure and development of the distribution industry;

96. Matters concerning policies to facilitate standardization, collaboration, and informatization in distribution and corporate logistics;

97. Establishment and implementation of policies on the spread of mutually beneficial cooperation in the distribution sector;

98. Formulation and implementation of policies for fostering the franchise industry;

99. Formulation and implementation of policies for fostering and promoting the packaging industry;

100. Informatization, statistical surveys, and international cooperation related to the packaging industry.

Article 13(Office of Industry and Growth) #

(1) The Office of Industry and Growth shall be head by one person, who shall be assisted by 3 Directors General, etc. <Amended on Dec. 30, 2025>

(2) The Head of the Office and 3 Directors General, etc. shall be appointed from among public officials in general service belonging to the Senior Executive Service.

(3) The Head of the Office shall take charge of the following: <Amended on Dec. 30, 2025>

1. Establishment and implementation of industrial technology policies, such as industrial technology innovation;

2. Establishment and implementation of policies to promote industrial technology culture;

3. Establishment and implementation of policies related to industrial intellectual property;

4. Adjustment and consultation of budgets related to research and development projects of the Ministry;

5. Establishment and implementation of comprehensive policies for industrial technology development, including support for industrial technology development;

6. Prediction of industrial technology environment, and planning, management and evaluation of industrial technology innovation projects;

7. Improvement of policies and systems for securing rights to research outcomes and facilitating transfer thereof;

8. Establishment and implementation of policies for facilitating technology transfer and technology commercialization and laying the foundation therefor;

9. Creating the foundation for facilitating international cooperation in the field of industrial technology;

10. Establishment and promotion of comprehensive policies for industrial technology foundation-building projects, such as industry-academia-research cooperation, and policies for expanding technological infrastructure;

11. Establishment and implementation of policies for the utilization and supply of human resources in industrial technology;

12. Establishment and implementation of policies to support the production, utilization and promotion of information related to industrial technology and research equipment;

13. Support for corporate research institutes in technology development;

14. Establishment and implementation of policies for industrial convergence and improvement of relevant statutes, regulations and systems;

15. Establishment and promotion of policies to support the convergence of industrial technologies and the development of convergence industrial technologies;

16. Operation and improvement of systems related to regulatory exceptions for new products and services of industrial convergence;

17. Matters concerning regulatory reform and improvement of administrative systems within the Ministry;

18. Establishment and promotion of deregulation plans for corporate activities, and evaluation and analysis of the relevant measures;

19. Establishment and implementation of policies relating to the application of artificial intelligence to the manufacturing industry, etc. and utilization thereof;

20. Research on and improvement of statutes, regulations and systems for the application and utilization of artificial intelligence in manufacturing;

21. Establishment and operation of public-private partnership systems for the application and utilization of artificial intelligence in manufacturing, etc.;

22. International cooperation for the application and utilization of artificial intelligence in manufacturing, etc.;

23. Support for the application and expansion of artificial intelligence in industrial settings, such as manufacturing plants;

24. Fostering and promoting the general machinery and equipment industry (excluding the equipment industries related to research, information and communications, networks, and broadcasting; hereafter the same shall apply in this paragraph) and supporting export;

25. Matters concerning external industrial cooperation, such as attracting foreign investment, supporting overseas investment, making technology exchanges, and responding to pending trade issues related to the general machinery and equipment industry;

26. Establishment and implementation of policies for fostering the robot industry, such as laying the foundation for the robot industry, developing technologies, and responding to pending trade issues;

27. Establishment and implementation of policies relating to the application of artificial intelligence to the biotechnology, convergence medical devices, and health-related industries;

28. Matters concerning the strengthening of competitiveness of the biotechnology, convergence medical devices, and health-related industries, such as the establishment of mid- to long-term development plans and the development of industrial technology;

29. Research and improvement of statutes, regulations and systems related to the trans-border movement of living modified organisms;

30. Establishment and implementation of policies for fostering the bio-related consumer products industry;

31. Informatization, statistical surveys, and international cooperation related to the bio-related consumer products industry;

32. Establishment and implementation of policies for fostering and promoting the semiconductor industry, the display industry, the image display device industry, the electronic components (referring to electronic circuit boards, sensors, precision motors, etc.; hereafter the same shall apply in this paragraph) industry and the printed electronic industry;

33. Matters concerning external cooperation, such as the attraction of foreign investment in the semiconductor industry, the display industry, the image display industry, the electronic component industry and the printed electronic industry, support for overseas investment, and response to pending trade issues;

34. Establishment and implementation of policies to support and foster technology development in the embedded software industry;

35. Formulation and implementation of basic policies for electronic and electrical industries, such as the household electronic device (including smart home appliances) industry, industrial electronic equipment industry, electronic game device industry (excluding online and personal computer game equipment), automobile electronic equipment industry, light emitting diode (LED) industry, organic light emitting diode (OLED) industry, lighting industry, optical industry, sound industry, new technology convergence electronic device industry, smart home industry, 3d stereoscopic image industry, electronic precision and control and measuring device industry, heavy electric equipment, electric wire, and electric power application equipment, battery industry, etc.;

36. Integration and coordination of investment plans for the electronic and electrical industries;

37. Technology convergence of the electronic and electrical industries;

38. Production and analysis of statistics on industrial trends of the electronic and electrical industries;

39. Training of human resources for the electronic and electrical industries, technology development, and creation of the foundation therefor;

40. Support for standardization, grant of patents, and industrialization of new technologies in the electronic and electrical industries;

41. Trade promotion, international cooperation, overseas expansion, and response to trade issues in the electronic and electrical industries;

42. Support for the transition of the electronic and electrical industries into advanced industries through intelligence, automation, etc.;

43. Stabilization of prices of products and raw materials in the electronic and electrical industries and facilitation of supply of and demand for such products and raw materials;

44. Support for certification of electronic and electrical industrial products and management of certification agencies;

45. Formulation and implementation of policies for fostering textile, fashion, leather-related products and carbon-nano materials-related industries, such as laying the foundation therefor and technology development;

46. Matters concerning external cooperation, such as expansion of exports of textile, fashion, and leather-related products, and carbon-nano materials-related industries, responding to pending trade issues, and support for overseas investment;

47. Facilitation of transition to a knowledge-based fashion industry;

48. Facilitation of transition of the textile, carbon, and nano-convergence industries, etc. to environment-friendly industries.

[Title Amended on Dec. 30, 2025]

Article 14(Office of Industry, Trade and Resource Security) #

(1) The Office of Industry, Trade and Resource Security shall be headed by one person, who shall be assisted by 3 Directors General, etc.

(2) The Head of the Office and 3 Directors General, etc. shall be appointed from among public officials in general service belonging to the Senior Executive Service.

(3) The Head of the Office shall take charge of the following:

1. Establishment and promotion of domestic and overseas resource development plans;

2. Establishment and implementation of policies to develop technologies related to domestic and overseas resource development, foster specialized human resources, and foster and support specialized enterprises, research institutes, etc.;

3. Implementation and improvement of the Special Act on National Resource Security;

4. Establishment and coordination of a master plan and an implementation plan for resource security, and operation of the Resource Security Council;

5. Designation of core resources and management of information and supply networks for resource security;

6. Matters concerning resource security crisis alerts and emergency response measures;

7. Development of overseas oil and gas fields and expansion of financial resources;

8. Demarcation of domestic continental shelf boundaries for oil and gas, and joint development of continental shelves with neighboring countries;

9. Establishment and implementation of policies on the development of next-generation resources, such as gas hydrates;

10. Establishment and implementation of policies on survey and research on domestic geological resources;

11. Collection, analysis and distribution of information, such as investment environment of and statistics on domestic and overseas oil, gas and mineral resources;

12. Fostering the resource industry and strengthening its competitiveness;

13. Establishment and coordination of basic policies on petroleum;

14. Establishment and implementation of policies on oil stockpiling and supply and demand;

15. Matters concerning the quality control, distribution, sale, consumption, etc. of petroleum products and alternative fuels;

16. Establishment and implementation of basic policies on the price, supply and demand stabilization, structural improvement, etc. of natural gas and liquefied petroleum gas;

17. Fostering and promoting the urban gas and liquefied petroleum gas industries;

18. Matters concerning the distribution, quality control, technology development, etc. of natural gas and liquefied petroleum gas;

19. Operation of statutes, regulations and systems related to natural gas and liquefied petroleum gas;

20. Establishment and implementation of basic policies on coal, such as comprehensive plans for the coal industry;

21. Matters concerning the prevention and recovery of mine damage in the mining area, such as the formulation of a master plan for the prevention of mine damage;

22. Matters concerning the designation, development, etc. of abandoned mine area promotion districts;

23. Establishment and promotion of domestic and overseas mineral resource development plans;

24. Development of overseas mineral resources and expansion of financial resources;

25. Matters concerning the development of the domestic continental shelf;

26. Matters concerning the stabilization of supply and demand of domestic mineral products;

27. Establishment and implementation of policies for fostering the domestic mining industry;

28. Operation of the mining rights system;

29. Safety management for mining areas;

30. Support for mineral resources-related cooperation with the North Korea.

31. Matters concerning agenda items to be submitted to the Expert Committee on Energy, Industry, and Resource Development;

32. Compilation of domestic and international resource supply and demand statistics and establishment and adjustment of domestic resource supply and demand plans;

33. Operation of resource pricing policies and systems;

34. Matters concerning the stabilization of supply of and demand for resources in emergencies;

35. Publicity of resource policies and external cooperation;

36. Establishment and implementation of green growth strategies and action plans in the field of resources;

37. Support for demand management projects of resource suppliers;

38. Establishment and implementation of a master plan and annual action plans for technology development in the field of resources;

39. Establishment and implementation of policies for the commercialization of technological development outcomes in the resource sector;

40. Establishment and implementation of policies to build a foundation for technology development, such as fostering and supporting research and development institutions in the field of resources, and fostering technical human resources;

41. Matters concerning fostering and supporting enterprises in the field of resources;

42. Establishment and implementation of basic policies on the safety of facilities related to such resources as oil and gas;

43. Development and dissemination of safety devices related to such resources as oil and gas, and safety management thereof;

44. Inspection and evaluation of the safety management activities of public institutions related to such resources as oil and gas;

45. Administration of statutes, regulations and systems regarding the safety of industrial facilities related to such resources as oil and gas;

46. Strengthening of public-private partnership and international cooperation for industries related to such resources as oil and gas;

47. Establishment and implementation of basic policies for fostering the materials, components and equipment industries and strengthening industrial supply chains;

48. Overall control over the creation of foundations for the materials, components and equipment industries and the strengthening of industrial supply chains, including the promotion of information sharing, enhancement of reliability, fostering of human resources, commercialization, international cooperation, and technology development;

49. Selection and management of core strategic technologies related to the materials, components and equipment industries;

50. Selection and management of industrial supply chain stability items;

51. Administration and improvement of statutes and regulations related to the materials, components and equipment industries;

52. Management of special accounts for materials, components and equipment;

53. Support for and management of the materials, components, and equipment competitiveness committee;

54. Matters concerning the establishment of cooperation models between demand and supply companies for core materials, components, and equipment;

55. Matters concerning planning of projects related to the core materials, components, and equipment industries and improvement of policies and systems related to industrial supply chains;

56. Matters concerning coordination of government support policies related to strengthening the competitiveness of the core materials, components, equipment industries and industrial supply chains and cooperation with relevant agencies;

57. Matters concerning the expansion and utilization of testbeds for the demonstration and mass production of core materials, components and equipment;

58. Establishment and implementation of support systems for improving the reliability of core materials, components and equipment;

59. Support for resolving difficulties faced by enterprises related to the materials, components and equipment industries and the strengthening of industrial supply chains;

60. Fostering and managing specialized leading enterprises and specialized enterprises related to the materials, components and equipment industries;

61. Establishment and implementation of basic policies for the promotion of root industries, and support for human resource training and technology development;

62. Formulation and implementation of policies for fostering the steel and non-ferrous metal industries, such as technological development and the establishment of industrial foundation;

63. Formulation and implementation of policies for fostering and promoting the ceramic industry;

64. Matters concerning the stabilization of supply of and demand for basic raw materials, such as steel, non-ferrous metals, and chemical materials;

65. Matters concerning the fostering of the construction materials industry, such as cement, ready-mixed concrete, and ceramics, and the demand and supply stabilization therefor;

66. Matters concerning external cooperation, such as expansion of exports related to the steel, non-ferrous metals, and ceramic industries, response to pending trade issues, and support for overseas investment;

67. Matters concerning the implementation of international conventions in the field of chemicals, such as the Convention on the Elimination of Chemical Weapons and the Montreal Protocol;

68. Establishment and implementation of policies for fostering industries related to petrochemicals, fine chemicals, fluorochemicals, tires, rubbers, plastics, basic organic and inorganic chemicals, such as laying the foundation therefor and technological development;

69. Establishment and implementation of policies to stabilize the supply of basic and intermediate raw materials and products to industries related to petrochemicals, fine chemicals, fluorochemicals, tires, rubbers, plastics, and basic organic and inorganic chemicals;

70. Matters concerning external cooperation, such as expanding exports of industries related to petrochemicals, fine chemicals, fluorochemicals, tires, rubbers, plastics, and basic organic and inorganic chemicals, responding to pending trade issues, and supporting overseas investment;

71. Facilitation of the transition of industries related to petrochemicals, fine chemicals, fluorochemicals, tires, rubbers, plastics, and basic organic and inorganic chemicals to environment-friendly industries;

72. Matters concerning technological development of core materials related to petrochemicals, fine chemicals, fluorochemicals, tires, rubbers, plastics, and basic organic and inorganic chemicals, demand and supply stabilization, and support for demand and supply companies;

73. Formulation and promotion of policies on trade security;

74. Operation of trade security-related statutes, regulations and systems;

75. Planning and overall control of systems related to trade security;

76. Matters concerning foreign investment related to trade security;

77. Matters concerning the establishment of domestic foundations for trade security;

78. Analysis and management of statistics, and survey and research on information related to trade security;

79. Cooperation with, support for, and coordination with institutions related to trade security, such as the Korean Security Agency of Trade and Industry under Article 25 of the Foreign Trade Act;

80. Operation of the Council for Control of Exportation and Importation of Strategic Items;

81. Operation, adjustment and execution of budgets related to trade security;

82. Formulation and implementation of policies related to the control of import and export of strategic items, etc.;

83. Planning and operation of the export permit system for strategic items, etc.;

84. Planning and operation of the determination system for strategic items, etc.;

85. Matters concerning the export examination for strategic items, etc.;

86. Current status survey, enforcement, and disposition related to import and export control for strategic items, etc.;

87. Formulation and implementation of measures to prevent violations of import and export control for strategic items, etc.;

88. Establishment and operation of an information system for import and export control for strategic items, etc.;

89. Matters concerning the designation, management, etc. of self-compliance traders under Article 22(1) and (2) of the Foreign Trade Act;

90. Matters concerning the issuance of import certificates and import and export control for strategic items, etc.;

91. Formulation and promotion of trade security policies related to technologies, such as national core technologies, strategic technologies, and sensitive technologies;

92. Planning and operation of trade security systems related to technologies, such as national core technologies, strategic technologies, and sensitive technologies;

93. Operation of relevant statutes or regulations, such as the Act on the Prevention of Divulgence and Protection of Industrial Technology, and systems;

94. Formulation and implementation of policies related to technology protection, such as protection of national core technology;

95. Creating a foundation for trade security related to technologies, such as national core technologies, strategic technologies, and sensitive technologies;

96. Response and cooperation related to trade security, such as export control-related agreements;

97. Response to trade security-related consultative bodies and cooperation among countries;

98. Strengthening international coordination and intergovernmental cooperation on trade security;

99. Matters necessary for the implementation of trade security-related agreements, etc.

[This Article Wholly Amended on Dec. 30, 2025]

Article 15(Office of the Minister for Trade) #

(1) The Office of the Minister for Trade shall perform functions related to trade, trade negotiations, overall control and coordination of trade negotiations with foreign countries, and foreign investment.

(2) The Minister for Trade shall perform the function as a trade representative, and his or her English title shall be indicated as "Minister for Trade".

(3) The Bureau of Trade Policy, the Bureau of International Trade Relations, the Office of Trade Negotiations and the Office of International Trade and Investment shall be established under the Office of the Minister for Trade.

Article 16(Bureau of Trade Policy) #

(1) The Bureau of Trade Policy shall be headed by one person, who shall be assisted by one Director General, etc.

(2) The Head of the Bureau and one Director General, etc. shall be appointed from among public officials in general service belonging to the Senior Executive Service.

(3) The Head of the Bureau shall take charge of the following:

1. Establishment, overall control, and evaluation of policies on mid- to long-term trade;

2. Affairs concerning the overall control and coordination of trade negotiations;

3. Operation of trade policy advisory organization and affairs concerning trade policy research institutes;

4. Survey and research on trade information, such as the international trade environment and trends in international financial markets;

5. Matters concerning the procedures for concluding trade treaties and implementation thereof under the Act on the Conclusion Procedures and Implementation of Commercial Treaties;

6. Formulation, implementation, overall control, and coordination of policies on trade with the United States of America, Canada, Central America, Southeast America, Europe, the European Union and Oceania;

7. Formulation of strategies and overall control over negotiations related to the Free Trade Agreement between the Republic of Korea and the United States of America;

8. Cooperation with and support for foreign organizations in Korea and overseas Korean business organizations related to the countries and the European Union as referred to in subparagraph 6;

9. Support for trade, overseas business activities and technical cooperation of enterprises related to the countries and the European Union as referred to in subparagraph 6;

10. Operation of a consultative body in the field of trade, such as trade ministerial meetings with the countries and the European Union as referred to in subparagraph 6;

11. Trade negotiations with the countries and the European Union as referred to in subparagraph 6, and overall control and coordination of trade negotiations;

12. Cooperation with relevant domestic agencies in foreign affairs related to trade with the countries and the European Union as referred to in subparagraph 6;

13. Matters concerning bilateral industrial and resources cooperation with the countries and the European Union as referred to in subparagraph 6;

14. Overall control and coordination of trade negotiations related to new international trade agenda;

15. Affairs concerning multilateral cooperation related to new international trade agenda;

16. Establishment of trade strategies related to new international trade agenda;

17. Cooperation with relevant domestic agencies regarding the affairs listed in subparagraphs 1 through 16;

18. Establishment and implementation of strategies for public relations and public communication regarding trade policies, including trade agreements;

19. Analysis of individual countries' policies, measures, trade agreements, etc. related to the trade sector, such as supply chain, digital, climate change, etc., and response to matters under jurisdiction;

20. Analysis of individual countries' policies, measures, international agreements, etc. related to response to climate change, such as greenhouse gas reduction, and response to matters under jurisdiction;

21. Response to matters under jurisdiction related to the Convention on Climate Change;

22. Analysis of ripple effects on the economy and industry by scenario of international negotiations on the Convention on Climate Change;

23. Preparation of measures to support export of domestic greenhouse gas reduction results to overseas markets and to link with major overseas markets;

24. Matters concerning the review and deliberation of the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) project in the field of industry and resources, and the development and cooperation of and support for the international carbon market;

25. Transfer and dissemination of technologies, policies, etc. related to greenhouse gas reduction in the industrial and resources sectors to support developing countries in responding to climate change.

Article 17(Bureau of International Trade Relations) #

(1) The Bureau of International Trade Relations shall be head by one person.

(2) The Head of the Bureau shall be appointed from among public officials in general service belonging to the Senior Executive Service.

(3) The Head of the Bureau shall take charge of the following:

1. Establishment and implementation of policies on support for the promotion of regional trade and negotiations;

2. Matters concerning treaties or agreements on bilateral trade, excluding free trade agreements (including regional trade agreements; hereinafter the same shall apply);

3. Establishment and implementation of comprehensive plans for industrial and resources cooperation;

4. Establishment of mid- to long-term and pan-regional international cooperation strategies related to industries and resources;

5. Matters concerning the support of international development assistance (ODA) under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources;

6. Matters concerning multilateral industrial and resources cooperation, such as the World Trade Organization, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Body, the Asian-Pacific Economic Conference, the Asian European Summit, the Group of 20 (G20), and other international organizations and international conferences;

7. Formulation, implementation, overall control, and coordination of policies on trade with the Commonwealth of Independent States, Central Asia, Russian Federation, Mongolia, China, Japan, Taiwan, Southeast Asia, Southwest Asia, Middle East, and Africa;

8. Cooperation with and support for foreign organizations in Korea related to the countries the countries and regions as referred to in subparagraph 7 and Korean commercial entrepreneurs' associations overseas;

9. Support for trade, overseas business activities and technical cooperation of enterprises related to the countries and regions as referred to in subparagraph 7;

10. Operation of trade-related consultative bodies such as trade ministerial meetings with the countries and regions as referred to in subparagraph 7;

11. Trade negotiations with the countries and regions as referred to in subparagraph 7, and overall control and coordination thereof;

12. Cooperation with relevant domestic agencies in foreign affairs related to trade with the countries and regions as referred to in subparagraph 7;

13. Matters concerning bilateral industrial and resources cooperation with the countries and regions as referred to in subparagraph 7;

14. Operation of trade-related consultative bodies, such as trade ministerial meetings Association of Southeast Asian Nations;

15. Matters concerning the establishment, implementation and inspection of policies for the fields of industry and resources related to free trade agreements.

Article 18(Office of Trade Negotiations) #

(1) The Office of Trade Negotiations shall be headed by one person, who shall be assisted by 3 persons including Directors General, etc.

(2) The Head of the Office and 3 Directors General, etc. shall be appointed from among public officials in general service belonging to the Senior Executive Service.

(3) The Head of the Office shall take charge of the following: <Amended on Dec. 30, 2025>

1. Establishment, overall control, and coordination of policies related to the conclusion of trade agreements, such as free trade agreements aimed at comprehensive external market opening, and bilateral and multilateral trade agreements (hereinafter referred to as "trade agreements");

2. Overall control and coordination of negotiations on trade agreements, agreement on text, preparation of a Korean version, and signatures;

3. Establishment and implementation of domestic public relations measures related to the conclusion of trade agreements;

4. Affairs concerning the ratification of trade agreements;

5. Legal review related to trade agreements;

6. Affairs concerning the implementation and renegotiation of trade agreements;

7. Affairs concerning the operation of implementation bodies under trade agreements;

8. Affairs concerning the regional agreement committee among the operational affairs of the World Trade Organization;

9. Affairs concerning negotiations over concessions on goods under trade agreements;

10. Affairs concerning negotiations over rules of origin under trade agreements

11. Affairs concerning negotiations over trade remedies under trade agreements;

12. Affairs concerning negotiations over sanitation, technical barriers to trade, and mutual recognition of technology fit under trade agreements;

13. Affairs concerning negotiations over services and investment under trade agreements;

14. Affairs concerning negotiations over trade norms related to government procurement, intellectual property rights, and competition policies under trade agreements;

15. Affairs concerning negotiations over environment and labor under trade agreements;

16. Affairs concerning negotiations over other sectors under trade agreements;

17. Survey and research related to the affairs of respective sectors under trade agreements;

18. Other matters related to trade agreements;

19. Composition and operation of the Committee on Trade Agreement Countermeasures;

20. Administration of relevant statutes or regulations, such as the Act on Response to and Support for Changes in Trade Environment, and systems;

21. Establishment and implementation of countermeasures for domestic industries related to trade agreements;

22. Inspection and evaluation of the progress in the implementation of domestic countermeasures regarding trade agreements, and establishment and implementation of supplementary measures;

23. Establishment and implementation of policies to support the utilization of trade agreements;

24. Matters concerning the utilization of trade agreements and the improvement of systems related to domestic countermeasures;

25. Affairs concerning the review of the conformity of domestic systems and foreign import regulations with international trade norms;

26. Establishment and implementation of comprehensive response strategies for foreign import regulations and non-tariff barriers;

27. Support for enterprises and international consultations for the relaxation of foreign import restrictions and non-tariff barriers;

28. Gathering information on foreign import restrictions and non-tariff barriers;

29. Establishment, implementation, overall control and coordination of policies related to the World Trade Organization;

30. Overall control and coordination of trade negotiations related to the World Trade Organization;

31. Affairs concerning the operation of the World Trade Organization agreements;

32. Matters concerning the trade agenda of the World Intellectual Property Organization, the World Customs Organization, the primary commodities organization, etc.;

33. Overall control and coordination of multilateral trade negotiations related to regional economic cooperation bodies;

34. Overall control and coordination of trade negotiations related to Asia-European Summits;

35. Affairs related to the trade committee of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development;

36. Establishment of strategies for responding to disputes involving the World Trade Organization and bilateral trade disputes and overall control of lawsuits;

37. Responses to the dispute settlement body and the appellate body of the World Trade Organization in relation to Korea;

38. Negotiations over texts related to trade disputes involving treaties and agreements on trade, and enforcement thereof;

39. Matters concerning the examination and interpretation of negotiation texts of treaties and agreements on trade, and review of the Korean versions;

40. Opinion-gathering from the industry and cooperation with relevant domestic agencies regarding the affairs listed in subparagraphs 1 through 39.

Article 19(Office of International Trade and Investment) #

(1) The Office of International Trade and Investment shall be headed by one person, who shall be assisted by 3 Directors General, etc.

(2) The Head of the Office and 3 Directors General, etc. shall be appointed from among public officials in general service belonging to the Senior Executive Service.

(3) The Head of the Office shall take charge of the following: <Amended on Dec. 30, 2025>

1. Establishment and promotion of long-term and short-term trade policies, such as comprehensive policies for trade promotion;

2. Matters concerning support for international cooperation related to the establishment of a foundation for trade transactions and domestic implementation;

3. Training of human resources in trade and establishment of trade information infrastructure;

4. Cooperation with relevant agencies, such as the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency, the Korea Trade Insurance Corporation, the Korea International Trade Association, and the Korea Commercial Arbitration Board;

5. Establishment and promotion of measures to facilitate export by business type and region;

6. Support for overseas market research and market development activities;

7. Matters concerning export support systems, in terms of finance, taxation and foreign exchange;

8. Establishment and promotion of measures to facilitate the export of promising items to discover alternative key export items;

9. Overall control and coordination of support for the discovery of alternative key export items and the expansion of export;

10. Analysis of long-term and short-term ex-import prospects and ex-import trends, and processing and management of trade statistics;

11. Establishment of import-related policies and improvement of relevant systems, procedures, etc.;

12. Establishment and implementation of policies on the origin system;

13. Matters concerning restrictions on trade, etc.;

14. Planning and overall control of basic policies and systems related to foreign investment;

15. Administration of relevant statutes or regulations, such as the Foreign Investment Promotion Act, and systems;

16. Composition and operation of the foreign investment committee;

17. Cooperation with, support for, and coordination with agencies related to foreign investment, such as the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency;

18. Facilitating the introduction of technology related to foreign investment and supporting investment cooperation activities by industrial sector;

19. Cooperation with foreign governments and international organizations and support for the conclusion of agreements with respect to foreign investment;

20. Establishment and promotion of public relations policies on the domestic investment environment targeting foreign-invested companies;

21. Operation of the foreign investment zone designation system and support for individual investment projects;

22. Support for overseas expansion of domestic companies, in terms of overseas investment and training of human resources;

23. Cooperation with and support for agencies related to overseas expansion;

24. Support for overseas Korean companies in their return to Korea;

25. Establishment and coordination of policies on industrial and resources special zones and cooperative complexes between the two Koreas;

26. Establishment of measures for inter-Korean talks in the field of industry and resources;

27. Overall control and coordination of inter-Korean economic cooperation projects of the Ministry;

28. Investment support for international greenhouse gas emission reduction projects in the industrial sector;

29. Establishment and operation of bilateral and multilateral cooperation systems for the promotion of international greenhouse gas emission reduction projects in the industrial sector;

30. Establishment and implementation of policies for promoting the export of nuclear power plants, facilities and technology and measures for public relations;

31. Promotion of cooperative projects related to the export of nuclear power plants, equipment, and technologies;

32. Establishment and improvement of systems to support the export of nuclear power plants, equipment, and technologies;

33. Management of regulations and information systems related to the promotion of export of nuclear power generation, and support for exporters in their overseas expansion;

34. Intergovernmental cooperation and coordination with international organizations regarding the promotion of exports of nuclear power plants, equipment, and technologies, and the management of support organizations for export promotion;

35. Training of human resources and management of statistics for the promotion of export of nuclear power plants, equipment, and technologies;

36. Establishment and implementation of export cooperation strategies related to countries adopting nuclear power generation;

37. Support for the export of nuclear power nuclear equipment and maintenance, repair, and operation services;

38. Support for identifying and promoting cooperation projects with potential export destination countries for nuclear power equipment and maintenance, repair, and operation services;

39. Financial support related to the export of nuclear power plants, equipment, and technologies;

40. Establishment and implementation of policies for fostering enterprises exporting nuclear power plants, equipment, and technologies;

41. Analysis of and response to foreign systems related to the export of nuclear power plants, equipment, and technologies;

42. Control and management of the export of nuclear power plants, equipment and technologies, operation of relevant systems, and bilateral and multilateral international cooperation related thereto;

43. Matters concerning cooperation with relevant agencies and organizations for the export of nuclear power plants, equipment and technologies;

44. Matters concerning international cooperation in the export of next-generation nuclear power generation and nuclear fusion technologies;

45. Other matters concerning the overseas expansion of nuclear power plants, equipment, and technologies.

Article 20(Delegation provisions) #

(1) The titles of Directors General, etc. assigned to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources pursuant to Article 12 of the Common Rules of the Organization and the Prescribed Number of Personnel of Administrative Agencies and their duties shall be prescribed by Decree of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources.

(2) Assisting or auxiliary entities established in the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources pursuant to Articles 12(3) and 14(4) of the Common Rules of the Organization and the Prescribed Number of Personnel of Administrative Agencies shall be prescribed by Decree of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources within the prescribed number of public officials assigned to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources.

Article 21(Duties) #

The Korean Agency for Technology and Standards shall take charge of the following:

1. Support for the establishment and operation of national standard policies and standardization policies for industries (including the information and communications industry; hereafter the same shall apply in this Chapter) and the establishment of the national standards system;

2. Safety control and quality control of products [referring to consumer products, children's products and electrical products (referring to products such as information and communications products and telecommunications equipment; hereafter the same shall apply in this Chapter]; provided, it shall be limited to electrical safety in the case of such products as information and communications products and telecommunications equipment;

3. Survey, analysis, evaluation, research and development support and certification related to industrial standards, safety standards, conformity, industrial-based technologies, etc.;

4. Establishment of policies on conformity assessment and measurement under the Framework Act on National Standards, and promotion of international mutual accreditation and international cooperation;

5. Cooperation and exchange with countries or international organizations regarding standardization and product safety;

6. Establishment and implementation of quality management policies;

7. Formulation, overall control, and coordination of policies and response related to technical barriers to trade (TBT) and technological regulation in the sectors under jurisdiction.

Article 22(President) #

(1) The Korean Agency for Technology and Standards shall have one President.

(2) The President shall be appointed from among public officials in general service or research service belonging to the Senior Executive Service.

(3) The Administrator shall exercise overall control over the affairs under jurisdiction in accordance with the order from the Minister of Trade, Industry and Resources, and shall direct and supervise public officials under his or her control.

Article 23(Subordinate organizations) #

The Bureau of Standards Policy, the Bureau of Product Safety Policy, the Bureau of Conformity Policy and the Bureau of Technical Regulatory Policy shall be established under the Korean Agency for Technology and Standards.

Article 24(Bureau of Standards Policy) #

(1) The Bureau of Standards Policy shall be headed by one person.

(2) The Head of the Bureau shall be appointed from among public officials in general service or research service belonging to the Senior Executive Service.

(3) The Head of the Bureau shall take charge of the following:

1. Matters concerning the formulation and implementation of national standards policies and master plans for national standards;

2. Matters concerning the operation of the National Standards Council;

3. Comprehensive management of information and data related to the national standards system, and research and improvement of statutes or regulations and systems related to national standards;

4. Matters concerning the harmonization of government standards;

5. Cooperation in inter-Korean standardization projects;

6. Exchanges and cooperation with international standardization organizations, regional standardization organizations, standardization organizations of other countries, and domestic standardization organizations such as the Korean Standards Association and the Korean Information and Communications Technology Association;

7. Establishment and implementation of a plan for research on technological improvement of national standards;

8. Linkage of standardization of research and development projects;

9. Matters concerning policies for the implementation of national standards and the spread of the standard management system;

10. Matters concerning the establishment and implementation of industrial standardization policies and plans related to the development of standards;

11. Matters concerning the composition and operation of the Industrial Standards Council;

12. Matters concerning the research and improvement of statutes or regulations and systems related to industrial standards;

13. Matters concerning the designation of certification institutions and the operation of the Korean industrial standards and labeling certification system under the Industrial Standardization Act and the Information and Communications Technology Industry Promotion Act;

14. Matters concerning the operation and management of the system of cooperative institutions for the development of standards;

15. Matters concerning the use, dissemination and revitalization of Korean industrial standards;

16. Matters concerning the accreditation of an organization engaged in certification of collective standards;

17. Matters concerning the establishment and implementation of policies to support civilian standards and de facto international standards;

18. Matters concerning support for the establishment of an industry-academic-research standardization system;

19. Matters concerning the operation and cooperation of the international committee on information and communications technology (ISO/IEC JTC 1);

20. Matters concerning the fostering of and support for professionals in standardization;

21. Establishment and implementation of standardization plans related to the linkage with national tasks;

22. Matters concerning research, development, maintenance and management of standards, research and support for industrial technology, international standardization, etc. in the following sectors:

a. Convergence technologies of new industries;

b. Information and communications technology, products, convergence systems, software and related services (promotion of software standardization shall be limited to matters discussed with the Minister of Science and ICT);

c. Industrial automation sectors such as machine tools, industrial machinery, precision machinery, robots and industrial data;

d. Construction-related technologies, such as concrete products, construction materials, fire safety and noise in buildings, and repair and reinforcement of structures;

e. Metal materials, materials-related processing and improvement technology, welding materials, analysis of steel, non-ferrous metals and minerals, machinery elements, equipment parts and automobiles, shipbuilding and aviation, and logistics;

f. Energy-related technology, technology related to raw materials and products in the chemical industry, such as petroleum and precision, nanotechnology, technology related to ceramic products, technology related to response to climate change, and industrial environmental and environment-friendly technology;

g. Cultural industries, service industries, social and management systems, biomedical services, welfare for the elderly and persons with disabilities, textiles and clothing, and daily necessities;

23. Matters concerning overall management of national standards, such as the maintenance of consistency;

24. Establishment and implementation of policies related to measurement standards, reference standards and reference materials;

25. Support for education and training for developing countries, in terms of standards and conformity assessment, etc.;

26. Other matters not falling under the jurisdiction of other departments within the Korean Agency for Technology and Standards.

Article 25(Bureau of Product Safety Policy) #

(1) The Bureau of Product Safety Policy shall be headed by one person.

(2) The Head of the Bureau shall be appointed from among public officials in general service or research service belonging to the Senior Executive Service.

(3) The Head of the Bureau shall take charge of the following:

1. Establishment and implementation of a comprehensive plan for the safety control of products;

2. Establishment and promotion of preventive safety management policies to ensure the safety of distributed products;

3. Establishment and promotion of measures for product safety of safety-vulnerable groups, such as children and the elderly;

4. Research, development and operation of statutes or regulations, systems and technical standards for product safety;

5. Establishment and operation of safety nets for the collection and provision of information on product safety;

6. Matters concerning the establishment of a foundation for safety control, such as the investigation, analysis, and research of safety of products and the development of related technology, and measures therefor;

7. Exchanges and cooperation with international organizations regarding product safety;

8. Designation and operation of certification and testing institutions, etc. on the safety of products;

9. Support for countermeasures against technical barriers to trade of goods.

Article 26(Bureau of Conformity Policy) #

(1) The Bureau of Conformity Policy shall have be headed by one person.

(2) The Head of the Bureau shall be appointed from among public officials in general service or research service belonging to the Senior Executive Service.

(3) The Head of the Bureau shall take charge of the following:

1. Establishment and promotion of policies for testing, inspection, calibration, product certification, management system certification, qualification certification, etc. (hereinafter referred to as "conformity assessment");

2. Operation and management of accreditation bodies in the fields of calibration, testing, inspection, reference materials, and medical testing;

3. Operation and management of accreditation bodies in the field of system certification;

4. Matters concerning the operation and advancement of metrology and measurement systems;

5. Matters concerning international mutual accreditation and cooperation in the field of conformity assessment;

6. Operation and dissemination of international standards related to the field of conformity assessment;

7. Development of proficiency samples and operation of programs in the field of conformity assessment;

8. Matters concerning fostering and supporting measurement-related industries, and nurturing specialized human resources;

9. Designation and operation of type approval and verification agencies relating to measurement;

10. Overall control, coordination, and dissemination of policies related to the systems and qualifications certification systems;

11. Matters concerning support for enterprises related to certification and quality;

12. Matters concerning the innovation of the national certification system and the establishment of a support system;

13. Matters concerning the operation of the integrated national certification mark system (KC);

14. Matters concerning fostering and supporting conformity assessment-related industries, and nurturing specialized human resources;

15. Matters concerning the establishment and promotion of quality management policies and support for the promotion of quality management;

16. Identification and evaluation of products developed with new technology and support therefor;

17. Establishment and promotion of policies to boost purchase, such as support for commercialization of nationally-certified products and public purchase;

18. Matters concerning the operation and management of the national certification system for new technologies, new products, excellent recycled products, etc. and the designation of certification agencies;

19. Support for the creation of new industries through industrial convergence conformity certification and relevant technology development.

Article 27(Bureau of Technical Regulatory Policy) #

(1) The Bureau of Technical Regulatory Policy shall be headed by one person.

(2) The Head of the Bureau shall be appointed from among public officials in general service or research service belonging to the Senior Executive Service.

(3) The Head of the Bureau shall take charge of the following:

1. Formulation, overall control, and coordination of policies and response related to technical barriers to trade and technical regulation in the areas under jurisdiction;

2. Identifying and responding to difficulties faced by enterprises due to technical barriers to trade and technical regulations in the areas under jurisdiction;

3. Exchanges and cooperation with international organizations and foreign governments on the technical barriers to trade and the technical regulation in the areas under jurisdiction;

4. Exchanges and cooperation with relevant administrative agencies, organizations, etc. on the technical barriers to trade and the technical regulation in the areas under jurisdiction;

5. Analysis of trends and provision of information on technical barriers to trade;

6. Bilateral and multilateral negotiations on technical barriers to trade;

7. Implementation of bilateral and multilateral agreements on technical barriers to trade;

8. Conduct of technical regulatory impact assessments on technical standards and testing, inspection and certification fields;

9. Matters concerning mutual accreditation agreements in the areas under jurisdiction related to technical barriers to trade;

10. Conduct of fact-finding surveys and improvement of laws and systems related to technical regulation in the areas under jurisdiction;

11. Matters concerning the harmonization of domestic technical regulations with international standards;

12. Matters concerning the collection, provision, etc. of information related to domestic and foreign standards and certification.

Article 28(Use of facilities) #

(1) Where there is no hindrance to the performance of the duties of the Korean Agency for Technology and Standards, the President thereof may allow a person intending to conduct tests, analysis and research on products and industrial materials to use some of the facilities necessary for such testing, analysis, and research for a specified period of time.

(2) The President of the Korean Agency for Technology and Standards may manufacture or process to supply goods that can be manufactured or processed as a result of an investigation, testing, analysis, and research, while it is deemed difficult for the general public to do so, to the extent that this does not interfere with the performance of his or her duties.

Article 29(Entrusted research) #

Where the President of the Korean Agency for Technology and Standards is requested to conduct surveys or research on industrial technology in addition to the duties prescribed by statutes or regulations, he or she may accept it only if it does not interfere with the performance of such duties.

Article 30(Delegation provisions) #

Assisting or auxiliary entities established under the Korean Agency for Technology and Standards pursuant to Articles 12(3) and 14(4) of the Common Rules of the Organization and the Prescribed Number of Personnel of Administrative Agencies shall be prescribed by Decree of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources within the prescribed number of public officials assigned to institutions under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources.

Article 31(Duties) #

The Free Economic Zone Planning Office shall take charge of the following:

1. Formulation and planning of policies and systems related to free economic zones;

2. Operation of the legislative system for free economic zones;

3. Designation and cancellation of free economic zones;

4. Establishment and revision of free economic zone development plans;

5. Support for the evaluation of business performance of free economic zones and the installation of foundation;

6. Research on data, establishment of statistics, publicity, and international cooperation regarding free economic zones;

7. Consultation with metropolitan local governments and free economic zone authorities related to the operation of free economic zones;

8. Establishment of and support for systems to improve the management of free economic zones and living conditions therein;

9. Consultation with relevant ministries and resolution of difficulties concerning the revitalization of foreign investment in free economic zones;

10. Operation of the Free Economic Zone Committee;

11. Formulation and planning of policies and systems for free trade zones;

12. Operation of the legislative system for free trade zones;

13. Designation, cancellation, and creation of free trade zones.

Article 32(Director General) #

(1) The Free Economic Zone Planning Office shall be headed by one Director General.

(2) The Director General shall be appointed from among public officials in general service or research service, belonging to the Senior Executive Service.

(3) The Director General shall exercise overall control over the affairs under jurisdiction in accordance with the order from the Minister of Trade, Industry and Resources, and shall direct and supervise public officials under his or her control.

Article 33(Duties) #

The Mine Registration Office (hereinafter referred to as the "Office") shall take charge of affairs related to the registration of the mining business.

Article 34(Director) #

(1) The Office shall be headed by one Director.

(2) The Director shall be appointed from among Grade IV or V public officials.

(3) The director shall exercise overall control over the affairs under jurisdiction in accordance with the order from the Minister of Trade, Industry and Resources, and shall direct and supervise public officials under his or her control.

Article 35(Subordinate organizations) #

Assisting or auxiliary entities established in the Office pursuant to Articles 12(3) and 14(4) of the Common Rules of the Organization and the Prescribed Number of Personnel of Administrative Agencies shall be prescribed by Decree of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources within the prescribed number of public officials assigned to institutions under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources.

Article 36(Duties) #

A Free Trade Zone Office (hereinafter referred to as the "FTZ Office") shall take charge of the followings:

1. Matters concerning the management, operation, etc. of free trade zones;

2. Matters concerning support for export industries.

Article 37(Name) #

The name and location of the FTZ Office shall be as specified in Appendix 1, and the jurisdiction thereof shall be determined by Decree of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources.

Article 38(Administrator) #

(1) The FTZ Office shall be headed by one Administrator.

(2) The Administrator shall be appointed from among Grade IV or V public officials.

(3) The Administrator shall exercise overall control over the affairs under jurisdiction in accordance with the order from the Minister of Trade, Industry and Resources, and shall direct and supervise public officials under his or her control.

Article 39(Subordinate organizations) #

Assisting or auxiliary entities established in the FTX Office pursuant to Articles 12(3) and 14(4) of the Common Rules of the Organization and the Prescribed Number of Personnel of Administrative Agencies shall be prescribed by Decree of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources within the prescribed number of public officials assigned to an affiliate of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources.

Article 40(Duties) #

A Mining Safety Office (hereinafter referred to as the "Safety Office") shall take charge of the following duties:

1. Safety inspections for mining facilities;

2. Matters concerning security measures for mining facilities.

Article 41(Name) #

The name and location of the Safety Office shall be as specified in Appendix 2, and the jurisdiction thereof shall be determined by Decree of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources.

Article 42(Director) #

(1) The Director for Dongbu Safety Office, Jungbu Safety Office, or Nambu Safety Office shall be appointed from among Grade IV public officials, and the Director for Seobu Safety Office shall be appointed from among Grade V public officials.

(2) The Director shall exercise overall control over the affairs under jurisdiction in accordance with the order from the Minister of Trade, Industry and Resources, and shall direct and supervise public officials under his or her control.

Article 47(Organizations subject to evaluation) #

(1) The organizations to be placed under the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources subject to evaluation pursuant to Article 31(1) of the Common Rules of the Organization and the Prescribed Number of Personnel of Administrative Agencies shall be as specified in Appendix 5.

(2) Details regarding the organizations subject to evaluation under paragraph (1) shall be prescribed by Decree of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources.

Article 48(Korea-U.S. Trade and Cooperation Division) #

(1) Under Article 17-3 of the Common Rules of the Organization and the Prescribed Number of Personnel of Administrative Agencies, Korea-U.S. Trade and Cooperation Division shall be established under the Bureau of Trade Policy of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources, as a temporary organization which shall exist until December 31, 2025.

(2) The Korea-U.S. Trade and Cooperation Division shall be headed by one Director, who shall be appointed from among Grade IV public officials.

(3) The Director of the Korea-U.S. Trade and Cooperation Division shall take charge of the following:

1. Matters concerning cooperation with the United States of America in industry and resources;

2. Support for private economic cooperation with the United States of America;

3. Support for market development and investment attraction activities toward the United States of America;

4. Matters concerning support for investment in the United States of America;

5. Matters concerning the establishment and operation of intergovernmental consultative bodies for cooperation in industry and resources with the United States of America;

6. Support for the identification and implementation of individual and package-based cooperation projects with the United States of America in the fields of industry and resources.

(4) The prescribed number of public officials assigned to the Korea-U.S. Trade and Cooperation Division shall be as specified in Appendix 5-2.

(5) The prescribed numbers for respective ranks in Appendix 5-2 shall be prescribed by Decree of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.

[This Article Added on Dec. 30, 2025]

[Previous Article 48 moved to Article 49 <Dec. 30, 2025>]

Article 49(Temporary prescribed number) #

(1) In order to exert overall control of negotiations for the Indian-Pacific Economic Framework, the temporary prescribed number under Appendix 6 shall be allotted to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources until December 31, 2027 pursuant to Article 25(1) of the Common Rules of the Organization and the Prescribed Number of Personnel of Administrative Agencies. <Amended on Dec. 30, 2025>

(2) In order to perform duties for supporting the Korea-U.S. shipbuilding cooperation projects, the temporary prescribed number under Appendix 6 shall be allotted to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources until December 31, 2028 pursuant to Article 25(1) of the Common Rules of the Organization and the Prescribed Number of Personnel of Administrative Agencies. <Added on Dec. 30, 2025>

[Moved from Article 48 <Dec. 30, 2025>]