Rough sailing expected for Korea-US FTA
Korea Times, 9 April 2006
Rough Sailing Expected for Korea-US FTA
By Ryu Jin
Staff Reporter
Talks for a free trade deal between Seoul and Washington seem to be running into a snag as some political leaders within South Korea’s ruling camp are raising voices on the need to slow down'' on it.
South Korea, which aims to conclude the free trade agreement (FTA) with the United States at least by June next year, declared the start of formal negotiations in February. But, the plan appears to be sailing on rough seas due to growing concerns at home.
It was a former presidential aide's scathing criticism last week against President Roh Moo-hyun that triggered hot debates on the thorny issue in political circles as well as civil groups, though he later apologized for hisbiting tongue.’’
Jung Tae-in, who served as a presidential advisor and secretary for economic policies for two and a half years until 2005, denounced Roh’s push for the free trade pact as a grave blunder'' which he said could endanger the entire South Korean economy.
In a series of interviews with several news media, he argued in acrid tones that Roh's FTA drive was born out of hishasty eagerness’’ to produce a visible accomplishment during the remaining two years of his five-year tenure.
Once dubbed an economic tutor of the liberal president, the 46-year-old man went so far as to brand the Roh administration as crazy'' andstricken with mad haste,’’ adding there seems to be no one in it to put brakes on its purely pro-U.S.'' policies.
While pointing out the seen whiff oflame duckery’’ of Roh, who is set to step down in early 2008, major news media only shed lights on the outward disunion between the president and his former aide, who quit late last year over allegations of power abuse.
Jung made an apology to Roh on Friday as his remarks touched off an unexpected'' stir. He said he did not mean to hurt the president and his administration with the harsh words, which he just gaveoff the record’’ for only background information.
However, the former economics professor still adhered to his position about the South Korea-U.S. FTA, arguing that it would bring about tremendous harm to the country _ even 10 times severer than the financial crisis it experienced from 1997 to 1998.
I'm pointing at the moon with my finger. But, they don't even try to look at the moon and only talk about the finger,'' he grumbled, adding the people should now think about the serious implications of the FTA, instead of politicizing the economic issue.
Debates, however, seem to be only in the initial stage as a growing number of people including Rep. Kim Geun-tae, a potential presidential candidate of the ruling Uri Party, started to call for acautious approach.’’
We must be thoroughly prepared to push for such a major state policy. Most of all, we should not be in a hurry for a careful negotiation,'' he said.I think we might also consider starting talks for an FTA with China to enhance our negotiating power.’’
Some political observers point out that people should also pay attention to the recent discord between Roh and some of his supporters as the formerly left-leaning'' head of state has moved to amore practical and realistic’’ point of view.
Roh, who entered his fourth year in February, named the conclusion of the South Korea-U.S. FTA and the alleviation of the socioeconomic polarization at home as his top two policy objectives in the remaining two years.
He seems to have concluded that there is no future for this nation without opening up its economy, including the service sector, to the world markets,'' a close presidential aide said.But, the president also knows about the implications of the FTA. That’s why he pledged to make utmost efforts to ease social and economic disparities at the same time.’’
