韓國輸出商品의 長期的 輸出可能性에 대한 商品學的考察 (其2-쌀ㆍ合板)

A Study on the Long-Term Export Potentials of Korean Export Goods (Part II-Rice and Plywood) -Especially in the Viewpoint of Commodities-

I. Rice. Rice is the staple food item for Asian nations, and about 90% of its world production is harvested in these areas. Similarly, it is the most important agricultural crop and the staple food item for Korea. During the decade immediately preceding the liberation, that is, in 1934~1945, Korea, under the Japanese colonial reign, exported an average of no less than 6.0 million suk of rice a year, about 59% of its yearly output, although it does not mean that Korea has the surplus output of rice for export at that time. Because exports of rice were compelled by Japanese under the considerable sacrifice on the part of the native population. After the liberation, it was not until 1950 that rice export was resumed, on the order of about 8,000 tons. Ten years later, in 1959, a further 5,000 tons, worth $775,000 was exported again and additional export succeeded in the following year. The indices of rice export in value are shown in Table 1. It does not show the steady growing tendency since 1959. It means that Korean rice was not a stable export item. Japan had the share of 69.2% of our rice exports, measured by 1959~1963 in average value, and Ryukyu, 29.28%. Korean rice export market was restricted in Far Eastern nations. Rice harvest has tended to increase gradually during the recent years thanks to the improvement of farming techniques and favorable weather conditions. Even greater crop increase will be made possible in the future by the further improvement of farming methods, expansion of area under cultivation, extension of irrigation facilities, use of better methods of fertilizing and improvement of seeds and varieties. The indices of rice production are shown in Table 2. Still, however, Korea faces an annual grain shortage of 2.5 to 3.0 million suk, and during the 1959~1961 period an annual average of 3,090 thousands suk of foreign grains were imported. Such an import requirement is expected to continue. Nevertheless, the continuation of rice exports is considered desirable to improve the balance of international payments situation. If we are going to have the more surplus for rice exports, we ought to increase the more agricultural productivity and consume the more of other grains, such as wheat, etc. Korean rice has gained a wide renown only in the Far Eastern Asian region and especially been relished by the Japanese. Their imports of rice, however, decreased drastically year by year, and the level of rice imports declined as low as 8.42% in 1951 comparing to that of 1955. Ryukyu will render the possibilities of our rice exports because of her Japanese-like consumption patterns and decrease of her rice production. In these connections, it might say that Korean rice export is under unfavorable condition. Still there are, however, some export potentials in these Far Eastern nations owing to their relishing qualitative superiority of Korean rice. II. Plywood. Plywood is made by veneer strips which is sliced from log timber. The log with the bark removed is soaked or steamed so that the wood fibers are pliable and soft. The log is then rolled against huge razor-sharp knives which slice off thin stuffs of wood in continuous strip. These strips are from 3/16 of an inch to 1/28 of an inch in thickness. After the veneer strips are cut or sawed into sizes easy to handle, they are dried and stacked. Veneer has some beautiful marking which would be hidden from view in the case of solid wood lumber. Thin veneer layer is attached to the other layers of wood to form what is known as plywood. Most plywood has 3, 5, 7, 9 or more layers. One reason why plywood does not warp readily is because of the grain of the veneer runs at right angles to the grain of the core or center piece of wood. This means that the two grains pull against each other and equalize tension, reducing the possibility of warping and cracking of the wood. These two characteristics, that is decorative beauty. and the strength and durabilit