제 3 호 The Removal from Japan's White List
Kicker: WORLD(POLITICS)
The Removal from Japan’s White List
Its Meaning and The Future of South Korea
by Dong-wook Kim, Cub-Reporter
kdw27501@naver.com
Japan announced that it will eliminate South Korea from their White List on the 28th of August. This decision caused the Korean stock market to fall instantly. According to the Japanese government’s official announcement about this elimination, they insist that they made this choice to manage exports. Will this be their only reason to ban us from free trade? Or is there another inner meaning to this regulation?
“Trade War” Between Japan and Korea: How Did this Happen?
It all started from four Korean demanding the Japanese government pay compensation. The victims were forced to work in a Japanese steel factory from 1941 until 1943. But then, they did not have the right to be paid off after the work including their wages, severance pay and savings. In 1997, they filed some lawsuits about this case against the Japanese government for violating national laws and illegal actions. The judges made an innocence verdict on this case so the plaintiffs lost. This case is the so called ‘first lawsuit’.
However, there was a second movement to this result, which is the problematic ongoing issue. It was a lawsuit by seven people including people from the first lawsuit. The plaintiffs required the Japanese government to compensate one million won to each person who was influenced by their brutal actions. The seven people were forced to work from the ages of 17 to 20, in a factory which was owned by the Japanese government. In this verdict, the plaintiffs could smile through the verdict, by winning the second lawsuit.
But after just a little time to enjoy this victorious moment, the Abe regime insisted with a strong backlash, that Japan cannot pay despite this judgement. The Abe regime said through a press conference, “This verdict is making such a mess between Korea-Japan’s relationship. I am sorry to hear about this decision. All claims to make about compensation are perfectly finished.” Thus, Abe declared to eliminate Korea from their white list.
Game of Chicken: Chicken Dinner for Japan?
Then, what are the pros and cons of Korea on this declaration of a trade war by Japan? What can and cannot we do due to this? Let’s discuss about Korea’s and Japan’s loss through this fight.
The Japanese government has made a regulation on exporting their Polyimide(Pl) and Etching gas. Pl is a material that cannot be replaceable to make semiconductor’s photosensitizer, which will strongly affect in producing semiconductor in Korean companies.
Japan exports 70~90% of world’s Pl, but this will not be a big deal because they just need a little change in reproducing new parts. Some of the products like hydrogen fluoride, known as etching gas, are concerned to be depleted if the regulation becomes strict. Japan’s industry is taking charge of 70% of the world’s etching gas with their high tech and low price competition. Etching gas is used to cleanse semiconductor. Korean companies are trying to produce etching gas, which is not hard to make but their technology cannot reach Japan’s level. Both of the materials have in common that they are crucial in making semiconductors,which is the proof that Japan is retaliating against the Korean economy.
The Korean government and Korean people also made their first step to deal with this problem. The government also eliminated Japan from their white list, but this is resulting in more loss to Korea’s exporting companies. The Korean government does not want this to backfire, so the regulations will be loosened compared to Japan’s.
On the other hand, Koreans are making a huge response to Japan’s action. They have launched a subculture to not buy Japanese products which are originally made by Japanese companies. The people who are leading this boycott are spreading a list of Japan companies. The boycott is the most meaningful action among all the boycotts against Japan. The sellers in Korea are not willing to sell Japanese products, and the companies are strongly backing up to not selling Japanese products. This movement has caused Japanese people to get mad, with a comment to not buy Korean products as a result.
Discrimination of Japan’s government has made both countries to get tired by starting off a trade war and regulating exports of crucial products. Expert have said that this emotional fight between both countries can harm the economy in Northeast Asia, precisely Korea and Japan. They say that diplomatic and economic solutions are desperately needed to ease the tough tension.
Sources:
http://news1.kr/articles/?3687169
http://www.newsis.com/view/?id=NISX20190708_0000703962
https://japan-forward.com/japan-beefs-up-export-controls-to-counter-south-koreas-political-maneuvering/
https://www.rappler.com/business/237606-south-korea-tightens-export-controls-japan-trade-row