[기자수첩] ‘Semiconductor oil shock’ is the answer

As the semiconductor shortage exceeded expectations, global industries are clamoring. As the shortage of automotive semiconductors continues, major global automakers are shutting down factories or lowering production. Hyundai Motor Company and Kia are also carefully operating their factories, adjusting their production plans according to the semiconductor supply and demand situation.

As a result of being overwhelmed, a cold wave in Texas, USA, caused a blackout. Samsung Electronics’ Austin plant located here, as well as semiconductor factories such as Infineon in Germany and NXP in the Netherlands, have stopped. Concerns about shutdown due to a shortage of semiconductors are spreading like dominoes not only in automobiles but also in the entire infrastructure such as steel, tires and solar power.

Increasing shortage of semiconductors causes a decline in the industrial competition between countries comparable to the oil crisis.

In the past, petroleum was an essential raw material for all industries. As such,’oil shock’ caused economic turmoil in countries around the world.

The situation is the same for semiconductors, which are called’industrial rice’. As it has become an essential part of all industries such as home appliances, IT devices, and automobiles, it has risen to a position comparable to oil in today’s global economy. In particular, IoT (Internet of Things) and AI (Artificial Intelligence), 5G(5th generation mobile communication) implementation is impossible without semiconductors.

Eventually, in the era of’S-nomics’ (semiconductor) in earnest, the establishment of a crisis response manual became urgent. It is not only private companies that supply and demand semiconductors. The government and business should establish a consultative body and strengthen their responsiveness. The government should carefully examine the grievances of companies that demand and supply semiconductors, and face-to-face with the establishment of supply chains.

In January, the Korea Automobile Industry Association is struggling to prevent shutdowns by holding an emergency meeting with semiconductor industry officials and organizing an industry emergency response group with the System Semiconductor Forum and Semiconductor Association. Although more than a month has passed since then, the Korean government’s presence in solving the problem is virtually’nothing’.

In the past, Korea was not significantly affected compared to other countries during the first oil shock, but during the second oil shock, it suffered severe damage.

The current shortage of semiconductor supply can be easily overcome without major damage, but the current chaos can recur at any time. The answer is’semiconductor oil shock’, Yubimuhwan (有備無患).

– .