[서울신문] Japanese press “Successful Japaneseization of Korean Semiconductor… Only the Japanese economy suffered.”

“Last year hydrogen fluoride imports reduced by 75%
Korean companies accelerate their own procurement of related materials”

It was diagnosed that the Japanese government’s export restrictions led to the de-Japaneseization of the Korean semiconductor industry, and as a result, only the Japanese economy was hit.

Nihon Keizai quoted data from the Korea International Trade Association on the 7th, saying, “Last year, the amount of hydrogen fluoride for semiconductor cleaning imported by Korea from Japan decreased by 75% compared to the previous year.” “Before the Japanese government tightened export control to Korea (strengthening regulations) Compared to that, it is at the level of minus 90%.”

The Japanese government rebelled against the final decision of the Supreme Court of Korea in October 2018, and from July 2019, strengthened export restrictions to Korea on key materials related to semiconductors such as hydrogen fluoride, fluorine polyimide, and photoresist, which Korea is highly dependent on Japan. did.

The newspaper said that Japan is accelerating its own procurement of related materials in addition to semiconductors in the wake of Japan’s strong response. He said, “It is the Korean material companies that have made up for the reduction in imports,” and said that Soulbrain, which Samsung Electronics participated in, is supplying ultra-high purity hydrogen fluoride at the same level as Japanese companies.

As a result, large-scale hydrogen fluoride manufacturing companies, Stella Chemifa and Morita Chemical Industries, saw a decrease in exports to Korea of ​​6 billion yen per year. Stella Chemifa’s hydrogen fluoride shipments in 2019 decreased by 26% from the previous year, and a similar decline has continued since then.

Nihon Keizai said, “In Japan, four months after the new cabinet was born, the issue of export control to Korea (export control) has become a thing of the past, even within the government due to the response to Corona 19. However, in Korea, the Japanese government’s exports With the management measures as an opportunity, the movement to localize advanced materials and devices is steadily progressing.”

Reporter Jinah Kim [email protected]

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