Barriers to Overcome

Cheong Wa Dae officials are exhibiting a cautious attitude after the Korea-U.S. FTA settlement. Even though positive evaluations about the negotiation settlement from the public are following one after another, there are people who still oppose the biggest-ever trade deal. There are many barriers to overcome, such as preparing measures to offset expected damages and the National Assembly’s ratification agreement.

That is why President Roh Moo-hyun said at a workshop attended by ministers and vice-ministers on April 3, “We are over the hardest part, but we cannot rest.”

Regarding a Chosun Ilbo report that President Roh would visit the U.S. in June and attend the Korea-U.S. FTA signing ceremony with U.S. President George W. Bush, Cheong Wa Dae instantly dismissed that, saying, “That is a groundless and false report.”

Yoon Seong-yong, a Cheong Wa Dae spokesman and senior secretary for public information, said, “It is not time to celebrate the FTA settlement with the U.S. We proceeded with the FTA for the sake of our national interest, but it is more urgent to take care of the people who will inevitably suffer from it.”

An official of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade said, “There is no certain plan to sign the Korea-U.S. FTA. Chosun Ilbo’s article is just based on their creativity.”

The reason Cheong Wa Dae is being cautious is that they are conscious of the fact that the supporters who turned their back on them are raising the level of opposition to the FTA.

Cheong Wa Dae has actively tried to persuade established supporters who turned their back in the process of proceeding with the FTA. On that day, Cheong Wa Dae posted a statement in the name of the Office of Public Information on the Cheong Wa Dae briefing site. It criticized a political interpretation of the deal by saying, “Some said that the government turned its back on its supporters and joined hands with conservative forces. But that is ignoring and distorting this administration’s efforts and intentions.”

At the same time, Cheong Wa Dae seems to be happy about the positive evaluation about the FTA settlement. Opinion poll results showed that President Roh’s approval rating is going up. A majority of opinion polls showed that his approval rating has skyrocketed from 20 percent to over 30 percent after the FTA settlement.

Meanwhile, Cheong Wa Dae plans to hold a Korea-U.S. summit meeting within the first half of this year. There are reports that Senior Presidential Secretary for Foreign Affairs and National Security Yun Byung-se met U.S. Deputy National Security Advisor Jack Dyer Crouch and discussed the issue of the Korea-U.S. summit meeting, along with the issues regarding the North Korean nuclear program and the Korea-U.S. alliance.

A Cheong Wa Dae official said, “If the Feb. 13 agreement reached at the six party talks on the North Korean nuclear program is implemented as planned, a Korea-U.S. summit meeting is needed to discuss issues such as how to address the nuclear program and establish a peaceful structure on the Korean peninsula. Based on such perceptions, we are trying to set a date for the meeting.”

jyw11@donga.com