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As already revealed in last month's regulations on the export of semiconductor core materials, Japan's economic retaliation is clearly intended to contain our future food, the next-generation industry.

The future of automobiles, which we are concentrating on, is expected to be hit by additional economic retaliation by Japan, and it is anticipated that hydrogen cars and electric cars will also be hit.

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Carbon fiber is not only a tenth of the thickness of hair, but it is a material that can give strength more than metal if it is hardened by gathering several strands.

It is four times lighter than iron and 10 times harder if it is the same weight, so weight and durability are used as essential materials for hydrogen fuel tanks.

The problem is that domestic carbon fiber is still 80% of Japan in terms of price competitiveness and quality.

As a result, HMC is conducting various certification testing procedures for domestic carbon fiber after the Japanese export regulation, and only durability test is carried out to secure safety.

Hyosung is the only company to produce carbon fiber in Korea and is considering expanding its production facilities in preparation for the situation where imports of Japanese carbon fiber are clogged.

[Kim, Chul / Hyosung Carbon Materials Research Supervisor: (Already) We were carrying out (production) line expansion next to the carbon fiber plant in Jeonju. We will review the additional capacity at the end of the capacity expansion.

The battery pouch used to wrap the battery, which is a core part of the electric car, may also be a target for Japan.

Some domestic mid-sized companies are producing some, but there is still a huge difference in technology and time is needed for testing to apply to actual process.

[Lee Ho-keun / Professor, Department of Automotive Engineering, Daeduk Univ. At the government level, we must (at least) shorten the certification period of new parts or products while overcoming the difficulties of the industry. "

In the case of hydrogen cars, the competition for preemption of the Japanese industry and the global market is in full swing, so research and development and policy support efforts for localization are more important.

(Video coverage: Hwang In-seok, video editing: Hwang Ji-young, CG: