Prime Minister Jeong: "Partial Operation of Local Parts Factory in China Begins"

"Mobilizing All Cooperation Channels, in Consultation with the Chinese Government"

Prime Minister Jeong Sye-kyun

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwangho Lee] Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun stated on the 10th regarding the novel coronavirus (Wuhan pneumonia), "Fortunately, local parts factories in China have begun partial operations."

On the same day, Prime Minister Chung visited Yura Corporation located in Bundang-gu, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do, and said, "The most urgent task is to resume local production in China as soon as possible. We are currently mobilizing all cooperation channels to negotiate with the Chinese government," he said.

Yura Corporation is a company that produces automotive parts such as wiring harnesses. Recently, due to the spread of the novel coronavirus, there have been disruptions in parts supply, causing some operations at Hyundai Motor to halt due to depletion of domestic inventory.

The government plans to promptly implement short-term measures to prevent the ripple effects of reduced automobile production caused by parts supply instability from spreading to secondary and tertiary parts companies and local economies, and to thoroughly prepare for a prolonged situation in the future.

Prime Minister Chung's visit was also arranged to directly hear opinions from the field and alleviate difficulties faced by the automobile industry.

First, Prime Minister Chung received a report on operational disruptions and response trends caused by the novel coronavirus from Chung Manki, president of the Korea Automobile Manufacturers Association.

Next, he listened to an explanation from Lee Ik-hee, president of Yura Corporation, regarding production disruptions at parts factories in China, and connected via video call with the head of the Chinese subsidiary to hear about responses to production disruptions and the status of factory reopening in China.

Prime Minister Chung said, "The novel coronavirus is an unexpected emergency situation causing great concern and anxiety among the public, but if the government and private sectors unite and respond with full force, there is nothing we cannot overcome," adding, "The government will keenly monitor the impact of the novel coronavirus on industrial sites and maintain communication with the field."

He emphasized, "We will take all-out measures with extraordinary determination to minimize damage."

In particular, he mentioned, "The most urgent matter for normalizing automobile production is to resume local production in China as soon as possible. We are currently negotiating with the Chinese government by mobilizing all cooperation channels, and fortunately, local parts factories in China have begun partial operations."

He continued, "Once parts are produced in China, we will actively support rapid customs clearance to ensure swift import into Korea, and at the same time, we ask that thorough hygiene and quarantine measures be implemented locally so that workers can return safely and factory operations can be fully resumed."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.