Ex-ambassador to US to take over Korea Int`l Trade Ass`n

Han Duck-soo, who resigned as Korean ambassador to the U.S. Thursday, has been appointed chairman of the Korea International Trade Association.

The organization said Friday that its chairmen`s group unanimously appointed Han as chairman in a meeting attended by outgoing chairman Sakong Il and vice chairman Ahn Hyun-ho. Twenty of the 30 chairmen of companies affiliated with the association were also there, including Iljin Group Chairman Huh Jin-kyu, GS Caltex Chairman Huh Dong-soo and STX Group Chairman Kang Deok-soo.

The association will hold a board meeting Monday and a general meeting Wednesday to officially appoint Han chairman.

Han took the lead in sealing the Korea-U.S. free trade agreement as deputy prime minister for finance in 2006 under the Roh Moo-hyun administration. He served as Korean ambassador to the U.S under the incumbent administration until he stepped down Thursday.

Voices in the trade industry wanted a businessman, not a bureaucrat, for chairman, but the presidential office is known to have told the chairmen`s group that Han is best suited for the chairmanship because of his deep knowledge of the free trade deal with the U.S.

Seoul will appoint Han`s successor as ambassador to the U.S. early next week. Senior Presidential Secretary for Diplomacy and Security Chun Yung-woo and Rep. Park Jin from the ruling Saenuri Party, who will not run in the April 11 parliamentary elections, are being mentioned as candidates.

Sakong, former Unification Minister Hyun In-taek and former Trade Minister Kim Jong-hoon had also been mentioned as being in the running but failed to make the shortlist.

sukim@donga.com srkim@donga.com