Quick end to Japan-ROK spat would be welcomed

There seems little doubt it will take some time to end the tense stand-off between Japan and the Republic of Korea because of a recent ROK court ruling concerning wartime forced labor. Tokyo appears determined to go ahead and strip the ROK of its preferential trade status, while Seoul on its part shows no sign of compromising, with public antagonism toward Japan leading to a consumer boycott of Japanese goods.

With Japan enacting broader, stricter control over exports of sensitive materials to the ROK, the consequences of the dispute are becoming increasingly apparent.

The ROK's high-end manufacturing, even its overall economy will be the direct victims. The ROK's high-tech sector relies heavily on Japanese supplies - ROK manufacturers reportedly depend on Japan for 90 percent of their fluorinated polyimides, 90 percent of their photoresists and 40 percent of hydrogen fluoride, three materials used to make semiconductors and displays. However, they in turn are indispensable contributors to the global semiconductor supply chain.