Industry ministry launches testing and certification industry forum

The industry ministry said Tuesday it had launched a forum for the testing, inspection and certification industry, aiming to help companies enter overseas markets. It was established in response to the spread of AI technologies, convergence across industries and expanding global technology regulations on carbon neutrality and cybersecurity.

The forum will be run by a steering committee and three working groups. It will discuss testing for AI products and services, the use of AI and digital technologies in assessment, ways to strengthen testing and certification institutions' global competitiveness, and changes to related laws and systems. About 100 people from testing and certification institutions, industry, academia and research attended the launch at Coex in Seoul.

"The testing and certification industry is core infrastructure supporting Korean companies' competitiveness and an important export industry in its own right, though its importance has not been adequately highlighted," Kim Dae-ja, head of the National Agency for Technology and Standards, said. The agency plans to develop policy tasks through the forum, consult related ministries and industry, and announce a development strategy for the sector in the second half of this year.

A testing and certification industry exhibition linked to EV Trend Korea 2026 will run at Coex's Hall A from Aug. 25 through 27. Fifteen testing and certification institutions and related companies will operate 44 booths displaying testing, inspection and certification services for future vehicles, as well as testing and analysis equipment and test-automation solutions. The exhibition will also offer recruitment and consultations on companies' testing and certification needs, overseas certification and responses to technology regulations.