Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA) said on the 22nd it earned an "excellent (A)" in the "2025 public institution management performance evaluation results" led by the Ministry of Economy and Finance, marking the top grade for the fourth year in a row. KOTRA is the only public institution to have received an A grade for four consecutive years recently. Kang Kyung-sung, KOTRA president, also received the top "excellent" grade in the chief executive evaluation.
This year's management performance evaluation covered 88 public corporations and quasi-government institutions, and 15 of them received an A grade. The performance in carrying out management contracts by 82 chiefs was also evaluated, with six receiving an "excellent" grade. KOTRA is one of three institutions that received the top grade in both the institution and chief executive evaluations this year.
KOTRA was recognized for achievements such as reaching $700 billion in exports (about 1,078 trillion won) and diversification last year in an uncertain global trade environment, including U.S. tariff issues, working with the government and corporations. Operating "Tariff Response 119," a pan-government integrated window on U.S. tariffs, KOTRA addressed around 10,000 tariff difficulties, and leveraged the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) in Gyeongju to post a record high foreign direct investment attraction in the fourth quarter last year.
Being selected by the Ministry of Economy and Finance as one of the "top 10 artificial intelligence (AI) leading institutions" also contributed positively to this evaluation. Through AI photo analysis solutions, KOTRA uses AI to improve safety management systems by conducting facility inspections and managing congestion at event venues. It also supported corporations' AI transitions by operating a pilot "AI export assistant" service to lower export entry barriers for corporations and running AI trade support centers at 20 locations nationwide.
In addition, KOTRA's top grades in external evaluations—such as customer satisfaction (seven years in a row) and win-win growth (five years in a row)—were reflected.
Kang said, "We will continue to create results through relentless management innovation and become an institution trusted by the public," adding, "We will further strive to expand exports for all, anchored in AI utilization and regional growth, to open an era of the top five in exports and $1 trillion in exports."