The Pyeongtaek Direct Customs Office is a place where the line of 'overseas' delivery boxes never ends. Last year, the number of direct purchase items from China that passed through Pyeongtaek Customs increased by 26 times in 5 years, reaching 39.75 million. The domestic industry is taking a direct hit in the face of the offensive by Chinese companies such as Ali and Temu. E-Mart, the largest domestic large-scale mart in terms of sales, accepted voluntary retirement for the first time since its establishment this year. This is due to the impact of the operating loss incurred last year. The situation of other large-scale marts is not much better. Domestic small and medium-sized manufacturers are also struggling. This is because they cannot keep up with the 'ultra-low price' strategy that emphasizes shocking prices. Safety concerns are also growing. Unlike domestic products that must undergo safety tests such as the KC mark, direct purchase products from China that are not subject to safety standards are causing controversy day after day. ■ The pursuer is charging... Have you ever driven a Chinese car? There are people who say they want to drive an American car, but it is rare to find someone who says they want to drive a Chinese car. This is because the domestic market still has a strong atmosphere of evaluating Chinese cars as inferior. However, we may have already ridden Chinese cars. According to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and the Korea Automobile Mobility Industry Association (KAMA), the market share of Chinese-made electric buses newly registered last year was 54.1%, up 12.3%P from the previous year (41.8%). This means that one out of two electric city buses sold last year was made in China. Korea is also in the midst of changes in the mobility market. After expanding its base in the commercial vehicle market, Chinese cars have even officially entered the domestic passenger car market. They are expected to be released in the second half of the year. ■ Desperate efforts to avoid being left behind... What about us? If we look at the changes in the two major markets of e-commerce and mobility, we can read the global economic trend of securing technological prowess. The key is securing excellent talent. Xiaomi, which is challenging the electric car market, has established research centers in Shanghai and other places and is currently developing electric cars by investing a large number of research personnel, and has announced its goal of becoming one of the world's top five automakers within 20 years. Temu, known to us as a shopping mall, is actually an IT company where engineers account for more than half of its employees. As such, talent is becoming more important in the global market as a competitive advantage. Changes toward survival are now an inevitable fate. This is also the reason why each country in the world is putting its life on the line to attract excellent talent, each emphasizing its own charm. However, it is pointed out that Korea is showing a lack of progress in nurturing talent. The rate of advancement to graduate schools in science and engineering and the rate of recruitment are falling every year, and excellent talent who go abroad are trying to stay in the country they are from. Korea’s rate of inflow of overseas higher education students is among the lowest among OECD countries. In 2024, a silent economic war is taking place around the world. Experts predict that the success or failure of future societies will ultimately depend on how well they utilize limited resources and the given environment. Is Korea ready for this? #Current Affairs Planning Window #Economic War #Survival #Ali #Temu #Direct Purchase #Electric Vehicle #Mobility #BYD #Xiaomi #Brain Drain #Talent Broadcast Date: July 2, 2024 (Tue) 10 PM KBS1TV, Current Affairs Planning Window [2024 Economic War 'Survival'] Reporter: Jeong Min-gyu Camera Reporter: Kim Min-jun Video Editing: Lee Jong-hwan Data Research: Jeong Yi-seo Assistant Director: Jin Eui-seon 'Current Affairs Planning Window' homepage https://news.kbs.co.kr/news/pc/sisa/s... YouTube / @kbssisa Facebook / changkbs WAVVE Search for 'Current Affairs Planning Window'