Journal of the Korean Society of Mineral and Energy Resources Engineers ISSN:2288-0291(Print) 2288-2790(Online) 한국자원공학회지

Japan has responded to the supply stability of mineral resources since the early 1970s. Since mineral resources are an important input factor for maintaining and strengthening the international competitiveness of the manufacturing industry in Japan, to secure a stable supply of mineral resources has become a major national task in Japan. With Japan declaring the realization of carbon neutrality in 2020, the importance of securing the base metals and rare metals has grown. The Japanese government is preparing for the competition to secure mineral resources, which will intensify in the future, by expanding and moving the international strategic focus areas in resource supply toward rare metals. Similar to the other developed countries, Korea has declared to move toward carbon neutrality by 2050. This means that, like the other major countries, rare metals are needed. In the area of rare metals, while looking at the market movements, the behaviors of major countries, and the decision of Japan, it is necessary for one to respond in a form that is suitable for Korea.