Amazing carbon

Once upon a time, there were carbon brothers. One day, they heard a fearsome voice from the sky. "Your life as air is over. Now live under the ground," the voice thundered. The younger brother ran away, while the older one went under the ground. Thunderbolts hit, and storms roared. After a long time, the younger one woke up one day, finding himself darkened charcoal. The older brother who endured the tremendous pressure and heat under the ground ahd became splendid diamond. Or so the story goes in Chung Chae-bong`s essay "Charcoal and Diamond."

Charcoals look totally different but they are the same in that they consist of pure carbon. The only difference lies in how the carbon atoms combine one another. Carbon is the origin of life on earth. DNA, which contains genetic information, are a carbon compound. Life phenomena such as photosynthesis and breathing occur due to organic materials composed of carbon. The solar energy is created by nuclear fusion catalyzed by carbon. The industrial civilization since the 18th century has been possible thanks to the carbon contained in coals and petroleum.

In modern society, carbon is now being condemned as the main culprit behind climate changes. The Lee Myung-bak administration pursued an economic policy aimed at reducing carbon emissions under the slogan of "Low-Carbon, Green Growth." It is important to decrease greenhouse gas emissions. However, the situation is so unfair from the viewpoint of carbon. Humans thrived on carbon but now label it as an evil that poses a threat to their existence. Lee Deok-hwan, a Sogang University professor, founded the Carbon Culture Institute, calling for a rediscovery of carbon`s value.

The Hyosung Group plans to invest more than 1.2 trillion won (1.1 billion U.S. dollars) in the Carbon Cluster in North Jeolla Province by 2020 to nurture carbon as a future growth industry. President Park Geun-hye played a guitar made from carbon fiber at the launching ceremony for the cluster. Carbon fiber is cited as a key material for the future as it weighs just one-fourth of iron but 10 times stronger and seven times more elastic. It seems that the Park administration is nurturing carbon, which its predecessor treated like an abandoned child.