What does the July 2026 renaming of the Rules on Industrial Digital Transformation mean for filings? The new title adds 'AI utilisation'

What changed

The official reason gives the aim as following the amendment of the Act on Industrial Digital Transformation (Act No. 21250, promulgated 30 December 2025, in force 1 July 2026), which added functions relating to 'AI utilisation' to the existing industrial digital transformation system, including the comprehensive plan, support, expert companies and leading projects. MOCIE Rule No. 17, promulgated and in force on 1 July 2026, renames the Rules themselves and adds 'AI utilisation' to the related provisions.

Article 2(1) now speaks of a support expert company for industrial digital transformation and AI utilisation seeking support under Article 11(2) of the Act, which files with the association under Article 16 of the Presidential Decree the notification of a support expert company for industrial digital transformation and AI utilisation in the new Form No. 1, with the listed documents attached; Article 1 now cites the renamed Act. In the same way Article 3(1) covers designation as a collaboration support centre for industrial digital transformation and AI utilisation under Article 11(2) of the Presidential Decree, by application on the renamed Form No. 2 to the Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy; Article 4(1) and (3) cover designation as a training institution for industrial digital transformation and AI utilisation personnel under Article 12(2) of the Presidential Decree, on Form No. 3, and issue of the certificate on Form No. 4 in that name. The note has not read the Act or the Presidential Decree.

Article 5(1) lets the Minister select each year excellent companies for industrial digital transformation and AI utilisation and persons who contributed to industrial digital transformation and AI utilisation under Article 24(1) of the Act, and redefines them in that name; Article 5(2) requires the Minister to announce the details of the selection beforehand, and Article 5(3) allows preferential treatment by awarding points when selecting recipients of the Minister's own projects. Other changes are the reissue of Form No. 1, the retitling and updating of cross-references in Forms No. 2 to No. 6, and, under Addendum Article 2, a matching wording change in the annexed table of the Rules on the Special Measures Act on Enhancing Competitiveness of Materials, Parts and Equipment Industry.

What to read in the text

Addendum Article 1 puts the Rules into force on 1 July 2026, the day of promulgation. The addendum contains no rule on pending cases, earlier acts or transitional measures, so nothing there states that notifications, designations or selections already made under the former names carry over or need to be made again.

A file therefore has to show the date of the filing or application, whether the party is filing as a support expert company, a collaboration support centre or a training institution, and whether the matter is a notification under Article 2 or a designation under Article 3 or Article 4; the form used names the new party type. The Minister may select the 'excellent companies and others' only after announcing the details of the selection beforehand under Article 5(2).

Questions for the legislature

Article 2(1) requires the 'notification of a support expert company for industrial digital transformation and AI utilisation' and Articles 3 and 4 use the renamed forms and party names. Neither the amendment text, the addendum nor the official reason states what happens to a notification or designation application already on file on 1 July 2026 in the former names. Must such a filing be renewed on the new form, or does it stand under the new name?

Article 5(3) allows the Minister to give 'preferential treatment by awarding points' when selecting recipients of the Minister's own projects. Neither the text, the addendum nor the official reason says how many points are given, on what projects, or whether a company selected in an earlier year under the former definition keeps that status. How are the points and the continuing effect of earlier selections determined?

When to revisit

We revisit this note if the Presidential Decree provisions cited in Articles 2 to 4 or Article 24(1) of the Act are read against the amended Rules, if the Ministry publishes the selection details or the preferential points under Article 5, or if a further amendment settles how earlier filings and selections are treated.