미·중 패권전 속 한국 반도체…“제재 폭탄 피할 공급망 관리 시급”

The Korean semiconductor belt in South Korea's Gyeonggi province has been identified by the U.S. White House as a potential "supply chain buffet" for China's rising influence. This assessment comes from a recent "large-scale fraud" report released by the White House's Commerce and Manufacturing Policy Division. The report features a photo of the ancient Greek mythological figure "Troy's Beggar" at the beginning of its first chapter.

The report warns that China's companies could overwhelm the large semiconductor manufacturing complexes in Uijeongbu, Hwaseong, Pyeongtaek, and Icheon in South Korea, potentially bypassing American trade barriers. When the Korean representative of Scission Lab, a platform company that screens foreign government export control and embargo information, was asked about the report, she stated that it was the first time a specific Korean region name had been mentioned in such a context.

She called it a "clear warning" that the U.S. perceives the Korean semiconductor supply chain as a potential area for illegal activities. The representative, who previously served as a special envoy in Washington during the Trump administration, emphasized that Korean companies and the government's supply chain management practices are still lacking.

As evidence, she cited the 2024 case of seafood produced by forced labor in North Korea, sold through companies like Coupang and Lotte Mart, which was exposed by a U.S. non-profit organization. She argued that Korean exporters need to have screening infrastructure in place to avoid U.S. penalties and fines from potential violations of export controls and sanctions.