Korea to Put 30% of New Standards R&D Budget Into De Facto Standards, Agency Says

by Kim SeongSeo Posted : April 29, 2026, 11:10Updated : April 29, 2026, 11:10
Exterior of the Korean Agency for Technology and Standards.
Exterior of the Korean Agency for Technology and Standards. [Photo=Korean Agency for Technology and Standards]
The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy’s Korean Agency for Technology and Standards said on the 29th it held a “2026 De Facto Standardization Forum kickoff briefing and strategy meeting” to review the status of de facto standards work and discuss strategy.

De facto standards are developed as companies voluntarily form groups such as forums and consortia and create standards in line with market demand and technological change. The agency said it has supported Korean companies’ responses to de facto standards through last year’s “measures to strengthen responses to de facto standards” and the “6th National Standards Master Plan” announced in March this year.

It has also set up domestic response committees by sector to provide systematic support for Korean companies’ participation and activities in de facto standardization bodies in advanced industries. This year, it plans to invest more than 30% of the budget for new standards research and development projects in de facto standards to move to secure an early lead.

Standardization experts attending the meeting shared sector-by-sector strategies and updates on their work. They also exchanged views on how Korean companies can strengthen global competitiveness by taking the lead in de facto standards in advanced industries.

Kim Dae-ja, head of the agency, said, “De facto standards quickly reflect market needs in line with the pace of technological change,” adding, “We will continue to expand support for developing the de facto standards our companies need to lead advanced industries.”



* This article has been translated by AI.