Trade, Industry and Energy Minister Paik Un-gyu will visit the United States for the first time since he took office. 

The industry ministry said Paik embarked on his trip to New York on Wednesday and is set to hold an investor relations meeting when he arrives. 

Paik is expected to emphasize that investment conditions have improved and cite uncertainties regarding investment have been significantly resolved following talks between Seoul and Washington on revising their free trade deal(FTA) and improvements in ties between the two Koreas and the North and the U.S. 

In Washington, Paik will meet with key officials, including U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross, and discuss ways to boost economic cooperation following the talks on revising the South Korea-U.S. FTA.