By Kim Sue-young
Staff Reporter
It appears that South Korea-related issues rank low among the foreign policy concerns of the next U.S. administration, a senior official of the governing Grand National Party (GNP) said Thursday.
Rep. Chung Mong-joon, who leads a GNP delegation studying the incoming U.S. administration, made the remarks during a meeting with Korean correspondents in New York.
Chung, a six-term lawmaker and member of the party's decision-making Supreme Council, and fellow lawmakers began a week-long trip to the U.S.A..
``According to a recent report on a Group of 16 meeting of the pro-Democrat Brookings Institute, South Africa, Nigeria, Turkey and Mexico are included in a possible membership list but South Korea isn't,'' Chung said.
``Those countries have close relations with the United States, to be sure. But considering its economic size, Korea should have belonged to the G-16,'' he added.
The G-16 meeting is considered a feasible substitute for G-7, a group of seven major industrialized nations including the United States, Britain and Japan.
Chung also warned that the next U.S. administration plainly seeks protectionism.
``I learned that many people think Japanese and South Korean automakers have grown under protectionism while wondering why U.S. automakers haven't''' he said. ``It is still controversial whether it is true or not but many Democrats tend to agree with the idea.''
Chung reiterated the purpose of his visit, saying, ``There was a need to enhance interests and broaden understanding of Korea.''
However, he dismissed the allegation that the delegation was dispatched to form unofficial connections with those possibly working in the Obama administration.
``Officials of the Obama transition team show no particular activities,'' he said. ``But I think it would be helpful for future relations between Korea and the United States if we meet with figures who may belong to think-tanks.''
The GNP delegates, including former Minister of National Defense Kim Jang-soo, met with National Committee on American Foreign Policy President George D. Schwab, Harvard University Professor Joseph S. Nye Jr. and Rep. Gary Ackerman.
They are scheduled to return home Sunday.