[Reporter's notebook] The shrimp will end up being crushed

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.

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