Yeo Isoyoung: "Lee Junseok, Are You Going to Sell Electric Cars Using Chinese Parts... A Clumsy Anti-China Coin"

A post by Lee So-young, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea.
[Photo by Lee So-young, Democratic Party of Korea Facebook page capture]

[Asia Economy Reporter Seoyoung Kwon] Amid conflicting opinions between the ruling and opposition parties regarding Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party presidential candidate's pledge for 'solar-powered shade shelters at highway drowsiness rest areas,' Lee Soyoung, a Democratic Party lawmaker, directly refuted the opinion of Lee Jun-seok, the leader of the People Power Party.

On the 31st of last month, Lee posted on her Facebook targeting Lee Jun-seok, saying, "Is it pro-China to drive an electric car with many Chinese-made parts, Leader?" and added, "It is problematic to keep distorting facts and inciting in this manner." She supported her opinion by citing statistical data, stating, "Among the world's major solar power distribution countries, excluding China, South Korea has one of the highest domestic module market shares (78.4% as of 2019)," and "The United States, the world's second-largest solar power producer, has only a 6% domestic module supply rate, and Japan, ranked third, has just 17.6%."

Previously, Lee Jun-seok had commented on Lee Jae-myung's Facebook post related to the solar shade shelter pledge, raising questions about the use of Chinese-made panels. When Lee Jae-myung posted a photo containing the phrase 'installation of solar shade shelters at highway drowsiness rest areas,' Lee Jun-seok commented, "Is a pledge for Chinese solar panel companies really necessary at this timing?"

In response, Lee Soyoung said, "Some within the People Power Party point out that the 78.4% domestic solar module market share figure includes cases where Chinese solar cells were assembled domestically, but even when considering only modules combined with purely domestic cells, the rate exceeds 20%," and added, "As of last year, China holds the world's number one global market share in solar raw materials (polysilicon 77%, wafers 98%, cells 83%, modules 74%), so if there is any country that does not use Chinese solar components, please let me know."

Lee also noted, "Solar power facilities with a high proportion of Chinese components are widely distributed even in advanced countries like the United States and Europe, which are critical of China," but proposed an alternative, saying, "Domestic solar modules can be used when fulfilling the pledge." She sarcastically added, "The electric car you drive and your mobile phone probably contain many Chinese parts, and you don't plan to sell them secondhand, do you? If you do, please contact me."

Furthermore, Lee stated, "I also oppose China's reckless unfair trade practices, but baselessly labeling renewable energy expansion policies as pro-China frames is low-quality agitation that does not help national interests," and criticized, "It seems like you are awkwardly trying to ride the 'anti-China coin,' but this time you have targeted the wrong place." She concluded her post by urging, "Let's compete with sound criticism and reasonable alternative proposals instead of 'random talk' and 'unfounded accusations.'"