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Minister of Industry and Trade Kim Jung-kwan departs for the U.S. through the Terminal 2 departures hall at Incheon International Airport on the 1st. / Yonhap

Minister of Industry and Trade Kim Jung-kwan proposed leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) for manufacturing innovation and bolstering supply chain resilience to the Group of 20 (G20). Presenting the "Manufacturing AI Transformation (M.AX)" initiative pursued by the ministry as a primary case study, his blueprint envisions utilizing AI beyond enhancing individual enterprise productivity to serve as a means of elevating global supply chain crisis response capabilities.

On the 2nd, the Ministry of Industry and Trade announced that Minister Kim attended the 2026 G20 Innovation Ministerial Meeting held in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, U.S., on the 2nd local time as South Korea's chief delegate. Hosted by the U.S., this year's G20 chair, the meeting centered on major agenda items including intellectual property policies for AI, AI standards, industrial innovation, and supply chain investments.

During the morning session, discussions addressed the balance between AI innovation and intellectual property rights protection, alongside the future course of patent and copyright systems. Minister Kim noted that as technological adoption expands opportunities for participation in innovation, a reliable patent framework is essential. In the copyright arena, he shared South Korea's experience operating fair use principles and AI training guidelines, emphasizing that the legitimate rights of creators must be respected.

In the afternoon, standards for industrial applications and supply chain resilience and diversification were addressed. Minister Kim stated that as technologies and services spread across borders, international cooperation is necessary to enhance interoperability and reliability across systems. Drawing on experiences with international standards discussions, he added that South Korea will also contribute to establishing standards that support global market expansion.

Regarding supply chains, he introduced South Korea's manufacturing AI transformation policy. The strategy involves deploying AI across factory floors to improve the efficiency of production planning, demand forecasting, and supply chain management, while boosting corporate responsiveness to market shifts.

He also stressed the imperative of cross-border cooperation. Minister Kim stated that while diversifying supply sources, countries must link their respective industrial strengths and build trust-based partnerships in critical resources, materials, and parts. He proposed that the G20 also play a role in forging an open and complementary global supply chain by harnessing each nation's industrial capabilities.

Minister Kim stated, "For AI innovation to translate into actual industrial competitiveness, technological advancement itself must be accompanied by the coordinated development of supporting intellectual property systems, standards, and resilient supply chains. Based on our on-site industrial experiences, South Korea will actively collaborate with G20 member nations."

Following the G20 Innovation Ministerial Meeting, Minister Kim is scheduled to travel to Washington, D.C., to attend investment notification ceremonies and roundtables with the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA), followed by official events including the groundbreaking ceremony for the Hyundai-POSCO Louisiana Steel Mill (HPLS).

                                                                                                           Kim So-young