[Opinion] Has The Nation Given up Regular Development?

``Even Samsung semiconductor…`` This was the title of the article in Dong-a Ilbo a few days ago, which reported Samsung Electronics` losses of 380 billion won in its leading semiconductor operations in the third quarter of the year. The title accurately expresses the shock that Samsung Electronics, one of the leading companies, marked the losses in its semiconductor operations in 13 years.

However, the title appealed to me not simply because it expressed the losses one of the companies made, but more because it conveyed the sense of helplessness and despair as if the pillar collapsed.

In fact, semiconductor has been a big pillar of our economy for last 10 years. Exports of semiconductor made a huge contribution in overcoming the foreign currency exchange crisis. Our semiconductor technology, which made overseas expansion magnificently, planted pride in the people.

The news that semiconductor, the symbol of the nation`s development, was facing difficulties, was reported to the people who were already driven to despair due to the chaotic politics and society. To make things worse, it was reported that Japan is preparing to dispute over the dumping of the Korean semiconductor, and the steel exports are at the risk of being banned as the U.S. ruled that the have caused direct damage to the American steel industry. Along with the lamentation, ``Even you….`` it seems natural to ask, ``Is there future in South Korea?``

However, this situation could have been predicted earlier. Every expert knew the fact that the semiconductor business and the steel industry, which are mainly dependent on mass production with small item, would face difficulties as the later runners like China overtake the business sooner or later. This is as if the exam time was over while running about in confusion to find the answer for the exam question that is already known. It would be correct to say that people couldn`t even try to solve the exam question because the surrounding was so noisy. Having been preoccupied with scandal, gate, or lobby cases, people could not think about the important issues upon which the future of nation depends.

Of course, the difficulties of the semiconductor or the steel industry may improve temporarily depending on the economic cycle and the political judgment of the U.S. and Japan. However, the long-term problem still remains. How would our nation survive if we hand over the semiconductor and the steel business to China? So-called `small but strong` countries, such as Sweden or Switzerland, have achieved added values due to their several competitive industries. However, we have not been able to develop any internationally competitive industry yet, which can replace the semiconductor and the steel industry in the future. If civilians cannot do this by themselves, the state should lay the foundation and set up the condition. However, political leaders are not interested in this while fighting for immediate profit. That is why the government officials do not move forward, and the nation`s long-term development strategy is wandering around.

For example, according to the Science-Technology Law, which became effective as of July, the government is supposed to make a basic plan on the national research development for the next five years. However, there is no trace of passion or labor which was shown during the time of 5-year economic development planning. Considering that the research development capacity is essential for the development of competitive industry in a knowledge-base society, the situation is frustrating. While the world changes everyday, our nation is facing the difficult situation in between developed countries and developing countries.

It is urgent to set up national strategy and carry out the policies in order to overcome such difficulties. However, the political circle is pushing forward with the transfer of semiconductor to China based on wrong big-deal policy instead of bringing together people`s capacity. Hynix Semiconductor has already become a huge burden to people. If the government sells the core facility and technology to China, it will inflict fatal damage to the nation`s competitiveness. However, there is nobody who takes responsibility for the wrong policy. In fact, from a `broad and bold perspective` corruption case like `gate` parallels to the wrong distribution of house property among family members. Wrong industry policy like big-deal is more problematic than wrong distribution within a family because it is as if giving the family`s means of living to the other.

Oh Sae-Jeong (Prof. of Physics at Seoul National University and visiting editorialist of Dong-a Ilbo)