Chilean Press Says, “Korea’s Postponement of FTA Can’t Be Justified”

Major Chilean newspapers have strongly criticized the Korean National Assembly for delaying the resolution on the ratification of the Korea-Chile FTA bill in editorial articles.

“The Korean National Assembly’s postponement of the ratification of the FTA arose from the consciousness of farmers’ press and the April general elections. It can’t be justified that it put off the ratification even despite both countries’ mutual gains,” commented Chilean daily newspaper La Tercera. Estrategia also critically reported in an editorial article today that, “It’s uncertain whether the Korean National Assembly will ratify the FTA on the fourth voting. It is natural for Chile to express strong dissatisfaction about that.”

Previously, La Segunda insisted on February 10 that, “Some members of the Chilean upper house are skeptical about the propriety of the conclusion of the FTA. The Korea-Chile FTA is not a big deal and Chile doesn’t have the advantage in it.”

“The upper house passed the ratification plan on request of Korean Ambassador to Chile, but we don’t expect that much,” said Senator Gabriel Valdés.

Hyung-June Park lovesong@donga.com