Presidential Candidates Speak Out on FTA Talks

Presidential candidates have varying positions on a possible free trade agreement with the U.S.

Some say that the FTA is not a matter of choice but of survival, while others are staging hunger strikes, demanding the negotiations be stopped.

Former Seoul Mayor Lee Myung-bak and former Grand National Party Chair Park Geun-hye expressed their support of the free trade deal as long as the deal excludes the opening of Korea’s agriculture market, such as rice.

Lee said in a lecture to Yonsei Business Administration Alumni yesterday, “To be competitive, you should open markets,” adding, “Some say that only strong sectors stand to gain from the FTA, but weak sectors could also be strong in the long term.” But he says that the U.S. should make a concession on the rice market.

Park said in a recent special lecture, “Korea has grown thanks to trade, and trade will remain an inevitable backbone of the economy. There will be no bright future if the country closes its door on bigger markets,” expressing her support for the FTA. However, she said, “We should never open our rice market, since rice is more than just another agricultural product to Koreans.”

GNP Rep. Won Hee-ryong refrained from expressing his opinion, saying, “I’m for the FTA on principle, but I should wait and see how specific issues are negotiated.”

Former Governor of Gyeonggi Province Sohn Hak-gyu said, “Korea needs the KORUS FTA to survive, but the rice market should be off the negotiating table.” Sohn argues that the country should establish itself as an economic hub of Northeast Asia by actively signing FTAs with other countries as well, adding, “The government should compensate sectors that suffer losses from the agreement.”

However, arguments of some candidates from the ruling camp are just the opposite.

Former Uri Party Chair Kim Geun-tae and Chun Jung-bae, who left the party to join a new party, are staging a hunger strike, saying, “The government should stop the FTA negotiations which divide public opinion and leave them in the hands of the next administration.”

Kim recently said, “The KORUS FTA negotiations are hurriedly taking place to meet the deadline. As the result will be a disaster, we should stop the talks right now. If not, Korea will fall into chaos and confrontation.”

Democratic Labor Party Rep. Kwon Young-ghil, who has been against the FTA, said, “The only alternative is to stop the negotiations.”

By contrast, former Uri Party leader Chung Dong-young said, “It is not right to rush to meet the deadline, but I’m basically for the FTA.” But he went on to say, “Korea should stick to the principle of not opening its rice market and having the U.S. recognize products manufactured at the Gaesong Industrial Complex as Korean products,” adding, “Additional negotiations are needed.”

Former Seoul National University President Chung Un-chan said in a recent special lecture, “It is irresponsible to oppose the FTA when the talks are nearing conclusion,” but added, “Korea should not open its rice market now.”

myzodan@donga.com