Jeju Island opposed to hosting FTA talks - FTA’s damage to Jeju industries cited
Hankyoreh, Korea
Jeju Island opposed to hosting FTA talks - FTA’s damage to Jeju industries cited
19 September 2006
The southern island of Jeju and its provincial council have urged the South Korean government to change the venue of the fourth South Korea-U.S. free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations. The fourth round is scheduled to take place in the Jeju Island city of Seoguipo from October 23 to 27.
At a press conference yesterday, a representative of the provincial council of Jeju Province said, "I was angry at the news that the fourth South Korea-U.S. FTA negotiations will be held at two hotels in Seoguipo."
The provincial council representative added, "According to some analysts, the FTA will cause over W2 trillion ($US2 billion) in damages to Jeju industries, including tangerines, for a decade. To hold the FTA talks in Jeju is an attempt to ridicule residents of Jeju," the representative said.
"Given the seriousness of the [impact of the] FTA between Seoul and Washington, Jeju Island will have to make utmost efforts [to have the meeting hosted elsewhere]. The provincial council will exert its efforts to change the venue of the FTA negotiations," officials of Jeju Provincial Council said.
Earlier, Jeju Island officials submitted their unfavorable opinion to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade and the Ministry of Agriculture & Forestry on September 14, saying, "[Local citizens are angry] that the fourth FTA talks will open on Jeju Island. It is not desirable to hold the negotiations here."
Regarding this, Kim Tae-hwan, governor of Jeju Island, yesterday remarked, "At present, no cities or provinces whose main industry is agriculture will host the South Korea-U.S. FTA negotiations," adding, "If the FTA covers tangerines - which are Jeju’s lifeblood - Jeju can make a request to the government for the changing of the talks’ host city."
"Tangerines are Jeju’s most important product. We delivered our position [on hosting the FTA talks] to the government officials using the most cordial expressions, so as not to offend them," added Gov. Kim.
In connection to the matter, Jeju civic organizations have also raised their objection to the fourth round of FTA talks being held there.
