Prime Minister Han Seong-sook applauds at the Korea International Trade Association's 80th anniversary ceremony held at COEX in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, on Tuesday. [Yonhap]
Prime Minister Han Seong-sook applauds at the Korea International Trade Association's 80th anniversary ceremony held at COEX in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, on Tuesday. [Yonhap]

Prime Minister Han Seong-sook said Tuesday the government will focus its policy efforts on making South Korea one of the world's top five export nations and work to diversify both products and markets to sustain trade growth.

Han made the remarks at the Korea International Trade Association's 80th anniversary ceremony held Tuesday afternoon at COEX in Gangnam-gu, Seoul. "We are now running with the remarkable figure of $1 trillion in annual exports right before our eyes," she said.

Han said the government would pursue stronger partnerships with major countries to ensure continued export expansion in semiconductors, automobiles and shipbuilding — industries that have long led global markets.

"To secure orders in the defense and nuclear power plant sectors, where international trust is growing, the government is broadening the scope of its economic diplomacy," she added.

Han went on to say that promising consumer industries such as K-beauty and K-food were building competitiveness through premium marketing tied to Korean culture. She pledged to establish a field-centered, all-round support system providing tailored assistance — covering overseas certification, financing, logistics and sales channels — on a country-by-country basis.

Addressing KITA directly, Han urged the association to work toward "exports for all," in which large companies and small and medium-sized enterprises grow together and all citizens share in the gains. "Korean trade will be able to grow with the support of the public when the warmth of economic growth through exports reaches every corner of people's lives," she said.


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