Daily ChosunIlbo, Korea

Korea Pushing for FTAs with ASEAN by Next Year

6 December 2005

Korea aims to close free trade agreements with ASEAN countries by the end of 2006, presidential adviser for foreign affairs Chung Woo-sung said Tuesday. The government will seek to sign basic agreements during Korea-ASEAN summit talks in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on Dec. 13.

Chung said that the government aims to reach agreements on goods by the first half of next year and on investment and service by the end of 2006.

The adviser said there was a good chance the agreements will cover goods produced in the inter-Korean industrial complex in the North Korean border town of Kaesong. Eight out of 10 ASEAN nations already agreed on the point, he added.