U.S. Urged Korea to Adopt U.S.’ Wireless Internet Standard

Colin Powell, the U.S. secretary of state, has requested Bahn Ki-moon, the minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade to allow Korean “WiFi,” a format of wireless internet, to be compatible with “Brew,” the wireless format of the U.S. based Qualcomm.

This request can be figured out virtually as trade pressure as to the problem dealing with company’s interests.

On March 4, Secretary Powell met with Minister Bahn and noted in accordance with the wireless platform standard adoption problem, which has recently been aroused as a question pending between Korea and the U.S. that, “I hope that the conflicts will be smoothly sorted out.”

As for this problem, Minister Bahn answered that, “As working-level officials of the two countries are discussing this problem along with the company representatives, my aim is to settle it in fair and objective manner.”

As for the requests of the U.S., Korea has maintained its standpoint that the decision of the wireless internet platform standard totally depends on private companies.

On the other hand, at the press conference with correspondents in Washington after finishing the foreign minister talks, Bahn has disclosed that he consented with the U.S. in that they will establish the working-group in which the relevant countries will take part. This will happen in the near future in order to negotiate their duties and conditions, and as a follow-up to the second round of six-nation talks. “I repeatedly asked for Powell to include Korea in the categories of visa-exemption countries and alleviate the conditions of visa issuance because the fingerprinting requirement can stir up an emotional problem,” explained Bahn. As for this issue, “Visa exemption is impossible to carry out in the case of Korea. Fingerprinting is carried out for every inbound passenger without exception since the 9/11 terror attacks,” answered Powell.

Soon-Taek Kwon maypole@donga.com