ISDS Case Map
Korea
US "economic colonization," "undemocratic," and a "path toward a miserable future for Korean citizens." These are the basic views held by Korean opponents of the free trade agreement that the Roh Moo-hyun government is pursuing with the United States.
In a message for the Church's Farmers' Sunday this week, Korean bishops and farmers have warned against the destruction of the local farming sector as a result of a Free Trade Agreement with the US.
The Korea Employers Federation Monday called for an end to “illegal” strikes aimed at thwarting the establishment of a free trade agreement between Korea and the United States.
About 100 anti-globalization activists, some from the US, clashed briefly with police in Seoul Monday, as they protested against talks aimed at concluding a free trade agreement between South Korea and the US.
Voices against the South Korea-U.S. free trade agreement (FTA) are increasingly being raised ahead of the second round of FTA negotiations, due to be held in Seoul on July 10. The voices of protest are not getting louder because Seoul is the venue of the negotiations.
As Korea resumed its talks with the United States over a proposed free trade agreement (FTA) yesterday, anti-globalization activists also made their presence felt, organizing scattered demonstrations in Seoul calling for the government to withdraw from the negotiations.
The government could give up trying to persuade the U to recognize products from the inter-Korea Kaesong Industrial Complex as made in South Korea in free trade negotiations. “It has become impossible to win Washington's consent about the Kaesong issue because of North Korea's sudden missile launches,” an official here said.
Given the constitutional right to freedom of expression, there is nothing wrong with critics voicing opposition to a free trade agreement being negotiated with the United States. Actually, many of them get their anti-FTA message across by contributing articles to news media, appearing on public forums or exploiting other legitimate channels to their advantage.
A special luncheon was held in downtown Seoul on July 4, 2006 to explain the advantages and disadvantages of a Korea-EU FTA. The European Union Chamber of Commerce Korea hosted the event.
The commissioner general of Korea's National Police Agency said police will sternly counteract possible violent demonstrations against the Korea-US FTA negotiations in Seoul next week.
