삼성, 국내협력사에 '일본산 소재•부품 재고확보' 주문…LG, SK, 현대차도 모색

South Korean firms are exploring all possible means to prepare for Japan possibly expanding its export restrictions... as Samsung Electronics is stockpiling Japanese materials.
Kim Da-mi has more.
Samsung Electronics has asked its partner companies in Korea to stock up on Japanese components used in making consumer electronics and smartphones.
The tech giant reportedly told them to get as much as they can by August 15, promising to take complete responsibility if they end up with leftovers.
Samsung has earlier expressed concern over the high likelihood that Japan will take South Korea off of its so called "whitelist" of trading partners.
Analysts note that Samsung's openness about such plans signal that it's taking the situation extremely seriously.
Meanwhile, the vice chairman of Hyundai Motor, Chung Eui-sun, has been in Japan since Thursday.
Hyundai said Jung is there to attend the Pre-Olympics for Archery in Tokyo, but industry watchers think his trip is not totally irrelevant to Japan's export curbs.
Although 90 percent of Hyundai's vehicle components are made in Korea, the vice chairman might be looking for hydrogen fuel tanks for some models.
In addition to stocking up on supplies and visiting Japan, Korean firms are speeding up efforts to have their materials made locally.
LG Display is, in fact, reportedly ready to test the production of its own etching gas,... one of the three materials targeted by Japan's export curbs.
Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix are also in the process of testing and developing that and other materials now sourced from China and Taiwan.
As Tokyo dials up the economic pressure,... South Korean firms are doing all they can to get ready to stand on their own.
KIM Da-mi, Arirang News.