Pros and cons waging ad war on FTA
Korea Times | 5 February 2007
Pros and Cons Waging Ad War on FTA
By Kim Yon-se
Staff Reporter
Proponents and opponents of a free trade agreement (FTA) with the United States are waging a war through advertisements to win the hearts and minds of the public.
Since last June, the government aired pro-FTA advertising 350 times via the top three TV channels and 468 times via cable network channels.
The government’s budget for the pro-FTA campaign via TV, radio, newspapers and the Internet came to 2.73 billion won over the past six months, according to documents from the National Assembly.
However, opponents are fighting back despite a smaller budget.
Last month the Korea Advertising Review Board rejected an advertisement against the FTA between Korean and the U.S. produced by filmmakers — it will undergo re-screening this week.
The board demanded the filmmakers delete the remarks of some old farmers and the narration, while the government’s pro-FTA ads are aired everyday on TV and radio.
The anti-FTA association composed of farmers and filmmakers expects the advertisement to be televised during Feb. 11-14 when the seventh round of Korea-U.S. FTA talks in Washington, D.C. are held, adding they are certain of receiving approval.
Even if the advertisement passes the screening committee, the farmers’ advocacy group is facing financial difficulties. According to some of its officials, their budget has dwindled down to 50 million won, far too small a budget to go toe to toe with the government.
In a similar move, the Korean Alliance Against KorUS FTA is producing radio anti-FTA advertising.
The issue is whether the government will allow the TV and radio campaign by activists amid a situation in which more and more Koreans are becoming pessimistic about the bilateral talks as the U.S. has continued to reject Korea’s main demands.
