[Invitation Seat] 'K-Battery' leaps to the top of the nation... Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Moon Seung-wook

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Then, let's talk about K-battery in detail with Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Moon Seung-wook.

[Moon Seung-wook / Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy: We are definitely number one in small batteries. The medium-to-large batteries used in electric vehicles have been delayed a bit, but recently, they have overtaken Japan and are competing with China for the top spot. Putting it all together, we will be number one. Today's goal was that we would be number one in the next-generation battery as well.]

[Moon Seung-wook/Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy: As you know, when we charge the battery now, it takes a little longer to charge, and when it is charged again, I want it to last longer. I wish it was a little longer and there is another safety issue. I want it to be safer, and the batteries that are going into it now use a lot of rare metals. So, our next-generation battery lasts a little longer when charged once with a slightly faster charging time, and we can definitely prevent safety such as fire. We pursue it.]

[Moon Seung-wook / Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy: In the case of lithium, which is the most central to it, I think the demand will increase six times. Since companies are now concerned about the smooth supply, Korean companies are also making investments to secure a lot of resources abroad, such as Indonesia or Australia. We are trying to do better in such an environment as joint exploration or joint ventures by strengthening cooperation between the country and the government a little bit more than now. Domestically, the government is also stockpiling some of these minerals. I am trying to make a more delicate policy so that companies do not have any problems with production by increasing the stockpile by two to three times than now and releasing it much faster than now when there is a problem with supply and demand.]

[Moon Seung-wook/Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy: When we talk with people in the industry, he talks about the shortage of manpower the most. Currently, about 25,000 people are working in the secondary battery industry, but 3,300 people are insufficient compared to the demand. So, with the goal of increasing the number of people by 1,100 per year, we set up a new department more specialized in semiconductors in universities such as the Department of Chemical Engineering and related industries, increase the number of students, and re-educate those who are working in the semiconductor industry. We plan to make these policies a little more diversified to expand the