President Moon Jae-in visited a local solar panels manufacturer... Hanwha Q CELLS on Thursday...... to show support ....as U.S. safeguard measures seem set to have a detrimental impact on the local industy.<br />The president vowed to provide extra support to those hit hard by Washington's move. <br />Moon Connyoung reports. South Korean President Moon Jae-in's first visit to one of the nation's top ten largest firms: a local manufacturer of photovoltaic solar cells, affiliate of a South Korean conglomerate, the Hanwha Group.<br /><br /> The left-of-center president has been an advocate of the nation's SMEs over large conglomerates, known as chaebols in South Korea... pledging to abandon what he called the country's "chaebol-focused growth strategy."<br /><br /> So the president's visit to this production facility of the solar panel maker, Hanwha Q cells, came as a surprise to many.<br /><br /> "I assume the latest decision by the U.S. to impose safeguard measures on Q-cells and modules will deal a blow to your firm. How big of an impact do you expect?"<br /><br /> "We enjoyed the largest market share in the U.S. last year. This year, we expect our U.S. sales to shrink by 50% from our initial estimates."<br /><br /> The South Korean president was referring to the U.S. President Donald Trump signing into law, last week, a 30-percent tariff on imported solar panels... billed as a way to protect American jobs... but dealing a heavy blow to non-U.S. manufacturers of solar panels... including Hanwha Q CELLS.<br /><br /> "The government will not let go of your hand. We will work with local companies to help minimize any damage from the measure."<br /> <br /><br /> Mr. Moon also vowed to speed up the use and development of clean, renewable energy in Asia's fourth-largest economy.<br /><br /> But, the primary reason behind his visit to this conglomerate... the president said... was because Hanwha Q CELLS deserved praise and recognition for its job sharing efforts.<br /><br /> Upon agreement between the management and the labor union, Hanwha Q CELLS recently added 5-hundred new employees to its 15-hundred strong workforce while cutting down the average working hours from 56 to 42 hours per week.<br /><br /> "Should all companies make the kind of efforts that you've made, I believe we will soon be able to achieve our goal of reduced working hours, quality job creation through job sharing, and resolve the issue of high youth unemployment."<br /><br />Moon Connyoung, Arirang News. <br />
