IT-Medicine Export Emergency

LG Electronics has decided to fly another chartered cargo flight to Germany on July 26, followed by the previous chartered flight on July 21.

The decision was made to meet the shipment date of LG display products that weigh almost 100 tons due to the continued Asiana Airlines pilot strike. Using a chartered flight cost the company five percent more than the original expense.

The extended Asiana Airlines pilot strike is expected to create export emergencies late this month, according to the exporting companies and the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Energy. Items usually exported by plane include semiconductors, mobile phones and parts, LCD monitors, display products, computers, medicines, and clothes.

Traditionally in Korea, the due date for almost 35 percent to 40 percent of the monthly exports is between the 25th and 30th day of every month, which is therefore highly possible for the Asiana strike to create a delay in the shipping of those items.

Most exporting companies have tried to avoid a delay by hurriedly changing airlines to Korean Air or Northwest Airlines, but some companies have failed to do so.

Im-Sook Ha Chang-Won Kim artemes@donga.com changkim@donga.com