Seoul: The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources convened its inaugural policy consultation meeting under President Lee Jae Myung's administration, focusing on pivotal economic strategies such as advancing South Korea's artificial intelligence (AI) transformation within the manufacturing sector and enhancing trade competitiveness. The meeting gathered government officials and experts to deliberate on these critical agendas.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the meeting also included discussions on South Korea's recent tariff agreement with the United States and strategies for advancing the country's semiconductor industry. A total of 26 experts specializing in AI, economic security, finance, trade, and resources participated alongside numerous government officials.

Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan emphasized the importance of strengthening the fundamental competitiveness of Korean industries, noting that economic uncertainties have somewhat diminished following the trade agreement with the U.S. "As uncertainties surrounding our economy have eased to some extent with the trade deal with the U.S., we now have to concentrate all our efforts on strengthening the fundamental competitiveness of our industries," he stated during the meeting.

Last month, South Korea and the United States finalized the terms of Seoul's $350 billion investment commitment, which was pledged in exchange for reduced U.S. tariffs. The agreed terms specify that the investment will include $200 billion in cash installments, capped annually at $20 billion, and an additional $150 billion dedicated to bilateral shipbuilding cooperation.