The new Korean National Assembly has begun its regular session, and the majority party has indicated its plans to get the Korea-U.S. FTA passed: SKorea's ruling party vows to ratify FTA with US:
Hong Joon-pyo, floor leader of the conservative Grand National Party,
said passing the deal will be his party's top priority in a 100-day
parliamentary session that opened Monday....
Kim Hyun, a spokeswoman for the main opposition Democratic Party, urged the GNP to scrap its plan to push forward with the deal, saying more studies were needed to determine its possible impact.
The GNP controls 172 seats in the new 299-member National Assembly and can push through bills it wants despite opposition.
However, the GNP is unlikely to take such a drastic measure anytime soon because it could prompt a strong public backlash at a time when President Lee Myung-bak is struggling to revive government approval ratings hit hard by weeks of rallies against his decision to resume imports of U.S. beef.
Also, some GNP members from rural areas remain opposed to the deal, which critics say threatens the livelihood of farmers.
Kim Hyun, a spokeswoman for the main opposition Democratic Party, urged the GNP to scrap its plan to push forward with the deal, saying more studies were needed to determine its possible impact.
The GNP controls 172 seats in the new 299-member National Assembly and can push through bills it wants despite opposition.
However, the GNP is unlikely to take such a drastic measure anytime soon because it could prompt a strong public backlash at a time when President Lee Myung-bak is struggling to revive government approval ratings hit hard by weeks of rallies against his decision to resume imports of U.S. beef.
Also, some GNP members from rural areas remain opposed to the deal, which critics say threatens the livelihood of farmers.
Meanwhile, Oh Young-jin of The Korea Times says the government has given up on U.S. ratifiction before the November elections: Seoul Shelves KORUS FTA.
During an interview with The Korea Times, Lee Hye-min,
Korea's deputy minister for trade and chief FTA negotiator, said, ``It
is certain that the U.S. will not be able to ratify the agreement until
the presidential election.
``That contingency is also being considered,'' said Lee, who was a key member of the Korean negotiating team in the lead-up to the settlement of the so-called KORUS FTA last year, confirming the difficulty Korea could face in getting the FTA ratified by the parliaments of the two countries, in the event that Barack Obama, the U.S. democratic presidential candidate, wins the November election.
Arguably, it was the first time that a senior Seoul government official has definitely expressed Seoul's position that it has forsaken its hope for FTA ratification.
``That contingency is also being considered,'' said Lee, who was a key member of the Korean negotiating team in the lead-up to the settlement of the so-called KORUS FTA last year, confirming the difficulty Korea could face in getting the FTA ratified by the parliaments of the two countries, in the event that Barack Obama, the U.S. democratic presidential candidate, wins the November election.
Arguably, it was the first time that a senior Seoul government official has definitely expressed Seoul's position that it has forsaken its hope for FTA ratification.