After Diesel Exhaust Fluid, a 'Funeral Crisis' Looms... "Raw Wood for Coffin Manufacturing Running Out"

China's Import of Paulownia Wood Halved... "Funeral Crisis May Soon Occur"
Opposition: "Total Crisis... Urgent Solutions Needed"

Recently, the import of Chinese paulownia wood has been reduced by half, causing an emergency in instrument manufacturing. The photo is unrelated to specific expressions in the article. Photo by Getty Images Bank.

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] Amid recent inconveniences faced by citizens due to the shortage of urea solution originating from China, concerns are now rising that a 'funeral crisis' may occur as imports of Chinese paulownia wood have been cut in half. It has been pointed out that the stock of paulownia wood used exclusively for coffin manufacturing, which is entirely imported from China, is only enough for about one month, putting coffin production on emergency alert.

According to the industry on the 14th, imports of Chinese paulownia wood have gradually decreased since August and sharply dropped by about half starting last month. Domestic companies are reportedly scrambling to secure supplies.

The sharp decline in paulownia wood imports is understood to be influenced by a combination of factors, including production disruptions caused by China's power shortage and environmental regulations.

Previously, China banned imports of Australian coal starting in October last year. Since then, the power shortage worsened, reducing the operation of wood production factories by nearly half, and frequent crackdowns by authorities on wood processing that causes air pollution also had an impact.

On the afternoon of the 12th, amid the ongoing shortage of diesel exhaust fluid, a tape marked with an X was placed on the diesel exhaust fluid sales sign installed at the entrance of a gas station in downtown Seoul. The photo is unrelated to any specific expressions in the article. [Image source=Yonhap News]

In the past, Korea used pine wood for coffins, but paulownia wood has been mainly used for the past 20 to 30 years. This is because paulownia wood has a relatively simple processing procedure and is inexpensive.

A representative A, who operates a coffin manufacturing factory in Gyeonggi Province, told Yonhap News, "Since mid-October, no coffin-making wood has been coming from traders. If we use the stock until the end of this month, the wood inventory will be depleted, but no one is paying attention," and warned, "A funeral crisis may soon occur."

Criticism is also emerging within the political sphere regarding this issue. Kim Yeonju, the standing deputy spokesperson of the People Power Party, issued a statement titled "From urea to coffin manufacturing wood, stocks are running out," criticizing the government's lukewarm response.

He said, "Although Blue House Chief of Staff Yoo Young-min sighed and said that the shortage of urea, which raised concerns about a complete stop in South Korea, was a 'costly lesson,' the reality is that it is still far from urea solution containers reaching actual users' hands," adding, "The supply of raw materials for strategic materials such as magnesium, aluminum, and silicon is also very worrisome."

Earlier, on the 10th, Chief of Staff Yoo said regarding the Chinese-origin urea solution supply shortage, "Although late, the government moved very quickly from last week and responded well in a short period," and added, "We paid a costly lesson."

Deputy Spokesperson Kim emphasized, "Even the stock of coffin manufacturing wood, which is entirely imported from China, is said to be only enough for one month, making this a truly comprehensive crisis," and urged, "The government and ruling party should urgently devise solutions to the current raw material crisis, even if it is only one percent of the effort they put into nationwide disaster relief payments."