[Reporter’s Notebook] Can Advanced Strategic Industries Be Discussed Without Semiconductor Experts?

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Sun-mi] "This is the Advanced Strategic Industries Special Committee discussing measures to foster advanced strategic industries that determine the fate of the national economy. I believe it is essential to include someone who knows semiconductors best."

Senior executives in the semiconductor industry expressed unanimous disappointment upon confirming that no semiconductor experts were included in the National Assembly’s Advanced Strategic Industries Special Committee. There is concern that the already delayed semiconductor industry development policies might slow down even further due to the committee being composed of members unfamiliar with semiconductors.

A seat within the Advanced Strategic Industries Special Committee, established to discuss support and development plans for national advanced strategic industries such as semiconductors and secondary batteries, was filled by independent lawmaker Min Hyung-bae, who majored in sociology and is a former journalist. This seat is assigned by the Speaker of the National Assembly.

This is the seat that independent lawmaker Yang Hyang-ja, the National Assembly’s only ‘semiconductor expert,’ was excluded from. Yang, who served as chairperson of the People Power Party’s Semiconductor Industry Competitiveness Enhancement Special Committee and was the principal sponsor of the ‘K-Chips Act’ (the Special Measures Act for Strengthening and Protecting National Advanced Strategic Industries), can no longer play a role after being left out of this committee.

Of course, there is no law mandating that experts in the relevant field must be selected. However, it is difficult to understand the rationale behind excluding Yang, a semiconductor expert who served as an executive director in Samsung Electronics’ Memory Business Division and has focused on legislative activities for industry growth.

It is embarrassing that there is speculation that Yang’s opposition to the Democratic Party-led ‘complete removal of prosecution’s investigative authority’ (검수완박) last year may have been a factor in her exclusion from the committee. This reflects the reality of South Korea’s semiconductor industry policies, which lag far behind those of the United States, Japan, and Taiwan in government support.

Time is of the essence, yet Korea’s future is being shaken by political power struggles. The industry cannot help but feel uneasy that political interests might reset discussions on advanced strategic technologies back to square one.

Is it possible to discuss fostering advanced strategic industries without semiconductor experts? At a time when strengthening strategic industries is urgent, how long will the National Assembly continue to focus only on political calculations?