The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
  • World Expo 2030
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
  • World Expo 2030
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
  • Login
  • Register
  • Login
  • Register
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
  • 1

    BTS producer encourages anticipation for future messages from group

  • 3

    Korean shorthairs among favorite cat breeds as more people choose to adopt pets

  • 5

    Uhm Jung-hwa enjoys second heyday with JTBC series 'Doctor Cha'

  • 7

    Tom Cruise to visit Korea to promote new film

  • 9

    Korea beats Nigeria to advance to semifinals at FIFA U-20 World Cup

  • 11

    S. Korea, Japan agree to prevent recurrence of maritime dispute

  • 13

    Korea sees record-high number of flu patients for late spring

  • 15

    Concerns rise over Samsung SDS' growing intra-group transactions

  • 17

    Election watchdog under fire for refusing to accept inspection

  • 19

    Shipbuilding stocks rally over hope for 'super cycle'

  • 2

    Senior citizens land low-wage jobs after retirement: report

  • 4

    From hip-hop idols to global superstars, BTS shatters records over decade

  • 6

    LIFE'S OLLE TRAILS 1How hiking Jeju's 437km of trails changed my life

  • 8

    REVIEW'The ODD Of LOVE' concert: Taeyeon shows why she is among K-pop's top vocalists

  • 10

    3 EXO members file antitrust complaint against SM Entertainment

  • 12

    Korea denies discussion with EU on sending ammunition to Ukraine

  • 14

    Baritone Kim Tae-han wins Queen Elisabeth Competition

  • 16

    Korean bio firms to seek new opportunities at int'l convention in Boston

  • 18

    K-food transforms global culinary industry

  • 20

    Agency launched to offer exclusive support for overseas Koreans

Close scrollclosebutton

Close for 24 hours

Open
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
Tue, June 6, 2023 | 19:43
Companies
Reporter's notebookThe shrimp will end up being crushed - again
Posted : 2021-11-08 16:27
Updated : 2021-11-09 12:55
Lee Kyung-min
Print PreviewPrint Preview
Font Size UpFont Size Up
Font Size DownFont Size Down
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • kakaolink
  • whatsapp
  • reddit
  • mailto
  • link

Vice Minister of Environment Hong Jeong-kee speaks during a press briefing attended by officials of trade ministry, Fair Trade Commission, National Tax Service, Korea Customs Service, National Police Agency at the ministry in Sejong, Monday. Yonhap
Vice Minister of Environment Hong Jeong-kee speaks during a press briefing attended by officials of trade ministry, Fair Trade Commission, National Tax Service, Korea Customs Service, National Police Agency at the ministry in Sejong, Monday. Yonhap

Gov't measures lack self-sufficiency, foreshadowing repeat of import item shortage


By Lee Kyung-min

Shrimp are small and weak, especially compared to whales ― the largest animal on the planet that is far larger in size and immeasurably more powerful.

No wonder Koreans have a saying: "It is shrimp that end up getting crushed in the fight between whales."

Not until now have I thought the common old saying would hit me so close to home, especially because I never thought there would come a day where I feel so deeply for the poor shrimp in a situation where there is no way out and being crushed is all it can expect.

But here it is. I can't help but feel that Korea is the shrimp in the fight between China and Australia over the recent fiasco concerning the acute shortage of diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) solution, a fight in which Korea was caught in the crossfire amid a diplomatic feud between the major importer and exporter of coal, a key material needed for making the fluid. Locally termed "urea water," it is a nontoxic solution of 67.5 percent purified water and 32.5 percent ultra-pure automotive grade urea.

Without the agent needed to reduce air pollution from diesel vehicles, engine performance is significantly reduced and operation is altogether impossible for up to 2 million freight diesel vehicles. Some of the newest passenger diesel vehicles cannot even start without it.

Korea is the shrimp here, not because it is smaller in size compared with the two countries, but because it lacks the natural resources to make the critical agent and therefore relies exclusively on other economies for import.

The diplomatically charged fiasco came as China began pre-export inspection of coal within its borders after it banned import of coal from Australia, after the latter blamed the former for the COVID-19 pandemic.

Some would characterize China as exercising its power. It can also be seen as the world's second-largest economy simply being irresponsible and inconsiderate of others. But one thing is certain: it can ― and did ― say no without giving too much thought to consequences for its domestic economy ― let alone other smaller economies, such as Korea, left in a panic to find ways out of the unexpected shock.

A number of ministries continue to fret over measures to forestall what is highly likely to develop into a full-fledged transport and logistics crisis.

An executive order prohibiting hoarding of the solution took effect Monday. Makers, importers and distributors of the fluid found to be holding onto volumes 10 percent greater than their monthly average sales will be subject to up to three years in prison or fines of up to 100 million won ($84,500).

The environment and trade ministries will look into whether solution manufacturing standards are met, while the Fair Trade Commission will clamp down on antitrust law violations.

The National Tax Service will monitor records of changes in volumes stockpiled as well as sellers and buyers of the solution.

Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum said during an Assembly session, Monday, that it was regretful that the government lacked efficiency in initial response measures. President Moon Jae-in called for all possible measures to stabilize the supply of the solution at a meeting with top advisers early in the day.

Still lacking, all the while, is a voice that advocates the need to draw up self-sufficiency measures, a more fundamental solution to what is highly likely to re-emerge in the form of another shortage of a key import item in the months or years to come.

As desperate and busy as the government officials all seem, why can't I shake off the thought that the shrimp will end up being crushed again?

Perhaps it is too cynical of me to be sure of a fiasco similar to this happening again.

I hope to stand corrected. But I'm afraid I most likely won't.



Emaillkm@koreatimes.co.kr Article ListMore articles by this reporter
 
wooribank
Top 10 Stories
1Korean shorthairs among favorite cat breeds as more people choose to adopt pets Korean shorthairs among favorite cat breeds as more people choose to adopt pets
2Agency launched to offer exclusive support for overseas Koreans Agency launched to offer exclusive support for overseas Koreans
3[ANALYSIS] S. Korean economy feared to follow in Japan's footsteps ANALYSISS. Korean economy feared to follow in Japan's footsteps
4Korea's export dependency on China dips below 20% Korea's export dependency on China dips below 20%
5Retail investors bet on wrong horse despite KOSPI rally Retail investors bet on wrong horse despite KOSPI rally
6Retailers use recycled, biodegradable plastic to attract eco-conscious consumers Retailers use recycled, biodegradable plastic to attract eco-conscious consumers
7Memorial event to be held for fallen Thai soldiers of Korean War Memorial event to be held for fallen Thai soldiers of Korean War
8Stats agency to use Naver's AI chatbot to offer tailored data for firms Stats agency to use Naver's AI chatbot to offer tailored data for firms
9HD Hyundai, Hanwha Ocean to compete in Busan to sell naval ships HD Hyundai, Hanwha Ocean to compete in Busan to sell naval ships
10Korea pushes digital technology exports to Middle East, Japan, ASEAN Korea pushes digital technology exports to Middle East, Japan, ASEAN
Top 5 Entertainment News
1[REVIEW] 'The ODD Of LOVE' concert: Taeyeon shows why she is among K-pop's top vocalists REVIEW'The ODD Of LOVE' concert: Taeyeon shows why she is among K-pop's top vocalists
2Baritone Kim Tae-han wins Queen Elisabeth Competition Baritone Kim Tae-han wins Queen Elisabeth Competition
3Busan Film Festival accepts director Huh Moon-yung's resignation Busan Film Festival accepts director Huh Moon-yung's resignation
4[INTERVIEW] 'One Day Off' star Lee Na-young, director on creating subtle, feel-good series INTERVIEW'One Day Off' star Lee Na-young, director on creating subtle, feel-good series
5'HyeMiLeeYeChaePa' producer Lee Tae-kyung hopeful of second season 'HyeMiLeeYeChaePa' producer Lee Tae-kyung hopeful of second season
DARKROOM
  • Turkey-Syria earthquake

    Turkey-Syria earthquake

  • Nepal plane crash

    Nepal plane crash

  • Brazil capital uprising

    Brazil capital uprising

  • Happy New Year 2023

    Happy New Year 2023

  • World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

    World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

CEO & Publisher : Oh Young-jin
Digital News Email : webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr
Tel : 02-724-2114
Online newspaper registration No : 서울,아52844
Date of registration : 2020.02.05
Masthead : The Korea Times
Copyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.
  • About Us
  • Introduction
  • History
  • Contact Us
  • Products & Services
  • Subscribe
  • E-paper
  • RSS Service
  • Content Sales
  • Site Map
  • Policy
  • Code of Ethics
  • Ombudsman
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • Copyright Policy
  • Family Site
  • Hankook Ilbo
  • Dongwha Group