Latest news with #KimJung-kwan
Korea Herald
6 days ago
- Business
- Korea Herald
Industry minister nominee pushes Korean take on US Inflation Reduction Act
Kim Jung-kwan calls for bold industrial policy to match US, China as tech rivalry intensifies Kim Jung-kwan, the first nominee for industry minister under the Lee Jae Myung administration, has pledged to introduce a production-linked tax incentive system for key industries such as semiconductors and batteries, modeled after the US Inflation Reduction Act. In a written response submitted to the National Assembly ahead of his confirmation hearing this week, Kim emphasized the need for aggressive government support that matches policies implemented by competing nations. 'It is time for strategic and proactive government-led industrial policies, including incentives that do not fall behind those of competing nations, in order to minimize trade risks,' Kim stated. He noted that while semiconductors remain a core pillar of Korea's industrial and economic security, the country's leadership in memory chips is being challenged by Chinese and US firms, and its capabilities in logic chips remain relatively weak. 'We need bold semiconductor policies to strengthen our global leadership and stabilize our domestic manufacturing base,' Kim said, adding that tax and fiscal support for the sector will be expanded. Addressing the battery sector, Kim acknowledged current difficulties stemming from a temporary slowdown in electric vehicle demand and the rapid rise of Chinese competitors. He said the government will consider introducing production tax credits for key minerals and materials to expand incentives for domestic manufacturing and strengthen the battery supply chain. Kim's vision for production tax credits involves a system that offers tax deductions based on production volume, effectively functioning as subsidies linked to output. The US has implemented similar 'Advanced Manufacturing Production Credits' under the IRA to support strategic industries such as batteries, solar panels and clean fuels. In Korea, companies operating in sectors designated as national strategic technologies, such as semiconductors and batteries, are currently eligible for one-time tax credits of up to 25 percent for facility and research and development investments. Unlike these investment-based incentives, Kim's proposed scheme would serve as a more direct benefit by offering tax credits on a portion of production costs. If implemented, leading chipmakers Samsung Electronics and SK hynix are projected to receive annual tax reductions of between 4 trillion won and 5 trillion won ($2.9 billion and $3.6 billion). President Lee had also pledged during his campaign to push for production tax credits of up to 10 percent for semiconductors. After taking office, he reportedly expanded the plan to include the battery sector, initiating internal reviews. In his statement, Kim also vowed to expand the government budget for renewable energy. 'Expanding renewable energy is an urgent task for achieving carbon neutrality, enhancing energy security and creating new growth drivers,' he said, pledging to improve the overall environment for renewable energy deployment including identifying new project sites, securing grid connectivity and increasing public acceptance. At the same time, Kim expressed support for nuclear energy, stressing the importance of a balanced energy mix of carbon-free sources to ensure a stable power supply and meet South Korea's greenhouse gas reduction targets under the Nationally Determined Contribution framework. He also pledged to boost Korea's long-term technological competitiveness by developing Korean-style small modular reactors and next-generation nuclear fuels, while expanding exports of nuclear equipment and supporting small and mid-sized exporters in the sector. On the issue of extended tariff negotiations with the US, set to conclude by Aug. 1, Kim said he would work toward a mutually beneficial outcome and use the talks as an opportunity to develop a bilateral manufacturing cooperation roadmap. 'In the face of US tariff measures and global supply chain shifts, I will do my utmost as Korea's 'export frontrunner' to strengthen our export competitiveness in key industries and open up new markets,' he said. Kim, a former official at the Ministry of Economy and Finance, most recently served as head of marketing at Doosan Enerbility, a major power equipment builder. Since his nomination, he has divested all holdings in companies that could present potential conflicts of interest, including shares in Doosan.
Time of India
01-07-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
South Korean auto parts delegation visits US to explore investment opportunities
The Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA) said on Monday it has dispatched an auto parts delegation to the US state of Georgia to help domestic manufacturers explore investment opportunities amid rising protectionist trade measures from Washington. Jointly organised by the Gyeonggi Province government , the auto parts investment delegation visited the cities of Atlanta and Savannah for three days from Wednesday, with 10 South Korean auto parts firms participating. The programme included investment seminars, consultations with Georgia state officials and on-site visits to existing South Korean manufacturing operations, including Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America , which was completed in March, reports Yonhap news agency. Georgia has emerged as a major hub for Korean automakers, including Hyundai Motor Co. and Kia Corp., whose large-scale investments in the region have encouraged related auto parts suppliers to follow suit. "We will continue to work with both domestic and international partners to help resolve investment challenges and support our companies' global expansion," a KOTRA official said. Meanwhile, industry Minister nominee Kim Jung-kwan said on Monday he will put in "utmost" efforts to safeguard "national interests" in South Korea's tariff negotiations with the United States and support Korean companies' exports amid global trade uncertainties . "I want to be at the forefront of South Korea's exports ... and help the country overcome difficult times and turn a crisis into an opportunity," Kim told reporters as he headed to his office for parliamentary confirmation hearing preparations. With regard to the anticipated trade negotiations with the U.S. Donald Trump administration, Kim said he will work with Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo to secure a tariff agreement based on "national interests," noting he understands the difficulties Korean companies face in the global market. Kim was serving as a president in charge of marketing at Doosan Enerbility Co., a major Korean power equipment builder, before he was tapped as the Lee Jae Myung administration's first industry minister. Under his leadership, Doosan Enerbility has strengthened its presence in the global nuclear energy market, contributing to the successful bid for the Dukovany nuclear power plant project in the Czech Republic. On Lee's campaign pledge to establish a new ministry in charge of climate and energy policies, the nominee said "industry and energy are inseparable."
Korea Herald
29-06-2025
- Business
- Korea Herald
Economic technocrat-turned-Doosan executive nominated as industry minister
Kim Jung-kwan, a former Finance Ministry official-turned-industry executive, has been nominated to lead South Korea's Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, bringing both government and corporate expertise to the role. President Lee Jae Myung tapped Kim, who currently serves as executive vice president and chief marketing officer at Doosan Enerbility, a major Korean engineering and plant construction company, as the new industry minister. The move is seen as part of Lee's drive to accelerate the country's transition to renewable energy and advance next-generation sectors such as offshore wind power and small modular reactors. Before joining Doosan in 2018, Kim built an extensive career with experience and expertise in economic policy within government, holding key positions at the Ministry of Economy and Finance, the Bank of Korea and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the lending arm of the World Bank Group.
