[Exclusive] "To Prevent Car Factory Shutdown" .. Song Young-gil Requests 'SOS' from Kang Chang-il, Ambassador to Japan

Support for Korean Businesspeople on Renesas Trip to Japan
Ruling Party: "We Will Respond After Gathering Industry Opinions"
Semiconductor Special Committee Expands Communication Channels with CEO Lee Jeong-bae and Others... Support for the 'Semiconductor War'

[Asia Economy Reporter Koo Chae-eun] As the shortage of vehicle semiconductors (MCU) supply puts Hyundai Motor and Kia parts suppliers on high alert, Song Young-gil, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, has stepped up to support the 'semiconductor procurement war.'

According to political circles on the 10th, Song recently conveyed to the Democratic Party's Special Committee on Semiconductor Technology that he would "consult with Kang Chang-il, the Korean Ambassador to Japan, on ways to resolve the issue of business trips to Japan (Renesas) for finished car suppliers." Song summoned Ambassador Kang because the issue of entering Japan has recently emerged as a difficulty converging at the semiconductor special committee.

Renesas is a Japanese company holding an 8.3% market share in the MCU market, ranking third after NXP (10.2%) in the Netherlands and Infineon (10.1%) in Germany. Currently, finished car suppliers are making business trips to countries like the Netherlands (NXP) and Germany (Infineon) to procure vehicle semiconductors, engaging in an all-out 'semiconductor supply battle.' The situation is so urgent that they are either waiting indefinitely in front of local factories or urgently seeking supplies through the black market.

However, as the Japanese government has not lifted foreign entry restrictions for several months, making it impossible to travel to Renesas, Song has stepped in to support. Song is expected to discuss with Ambassador Kang proposals such as allowing limited entry into Japan specifically for business trips related to vehicle semiconductor procurement.

A representative of the semiconductor special committee stated, "The committee is constantly gathering the semiconductor industry's difficulties and immediately coming up with ideas to politically resolve them if possible. The Japan entry issue is part of that effort." The Japanese government declared a 'state of emergency' last December due to a surge in COVID-19 cases, suspending business visa operations and not allowing new foreign entries.

Yang Hyang-ja, Chairperson of the Semiconductor Technology Special Committee of the Democratic Party of Korea, is delivering a greeting at the launch ceremony and first meeting of the Semiconductor Technology Special Committee held at the National Assembly on the 23rd. Photo by Yoon Dong-ju doso7@

Support for business trips related to vehicle semiconductors is also being provided at the government level. Since February, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy has supported quarantine exemption reviews for 9 entries/exits (16 business travelers) related to vehicle semiconductor procurement, and has been assisting with expedited customs clearance and negotiations for companies facing supply difficulties.

The semiconductor special committee, led by Representative Yang Hyang-ja, is expanding channels to gather industry opinions. Recently, they have been closely communicating with Lee Jung-bae, President of Samsung Electronics Memory Division, and collecting expert opinions from Lee Chang-han, Vice Chairman of the Semiconductor Association, and Park Jae-geun, President of the Semiconductor Display Society (Professor of Convergence Electronics Engineering at Hanyang University). Representative Yang said, "We are responding promptly by dividing tasks into short-, medium-, and long-term actions. First, we are addressing the urgent issue of vehicle semiconductor supply, and in the long term, we will develop measures to support domestic MCU production."