The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) has prioritized regional economic growth for next year and selected the ‘5 Poles 3 Special Growth Engines’ industries to focus on supporting the ‘5 Growth Packages’. Additionally, to create an AI transformation ecosystem in manufacturing, MOTIE plans to increase the number of AI factories nationwide to 500 by 2030 and establish 15 AI leading models and 13 AI demonstration industrial complexes.
On the 17th, MOTIE reported its 2026 work plan under the theme ‘Growth for Regions, Vitality for Companies’ at the Government Sejong Convention Center. MOTIE set three major policy directions for next year: regional-centered economic growth, advanced manufacturing AI transformation, and maximizing national interests with a new trade strategy, focusing its policy capabilities on contributing to regional economic growth.
MOTIE aims to support regions as the main drivers of economic growth and industrial hubs next year. To achieve this, it will select the ‘5 Poles 3 Special Growth Engines’ industries and foster advanced industries in mega-regions connecting multiple areas, and create RE100 industrial complexes equivalent to new cities. It will expand regulatory free zones to provide regulatory exceptions for urban driving of future cars and support talent supply through nine regional hub national universities.
MOTIE will enhance the fundamental competitiveness of the manufacturing industry by promoting the convergence of manufacturing and AI (M.AX), focusing its policy capabilities on strengthening next-generation manufacturing competitiveness. It plans to increase the number of AI factories from 102 this year to 500 by 2030, and develop AI technologies that can be jointly used by large companies and their partners, establishing 15 ‘large-medium-small cooperation AI leading models’.