Korea to review texts of all free trade deals

By Kim Tae-gyu

The government will examine the texts of all the free trade agreements (FTA) that it has concluded after hundreds of mistranslations were located in the Korean-language version of its trade deal with the European Union.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MOFAT) said Thursday that all the five FTAs, which are running, and three pacts awaiting parliamentary approval will be reviewed.

``We are already inspecting the agreements with the United States and Peru, which need to be passed by the Assembly. We also plan to check other deals which are already in effect,’’ a MOFAT spokesman said.

``If we find any mistranslations we will consult with our partner nations to correct them. The work has nothing to do with the content of the agreements. It is about changing any errors.’’

Korea has FTAs in effect with Chile, Singapore, India, member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA).

EFTA is composed of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.

MOFAT said early this week that the Korean text of its FTA with the EU was found to have a total of 207 mistakes ― 187 mistranslations and 20 typos.

The ministry started to double-check the pact after outside experts took issue with various mistranslations in the Korean version since it was signed last October.

Due to the translation issue, the ratification of the pact has been delayed.

MOFAT originally presented the ratification motion for the agreement last October to the unicameral parliament, but withdrew it in the face of criticism that it was full of blunders.

The ministry came up with a revised version in late February but retracted it once again in late March after more mistakes were found.

Trade Minister Kim Jong-hoon apologized for them and promised to take strict disciplinary measures against those responsible.

Yet some claim that Kim himself should step down. Observers predict that Kim will resign after cleaning up the mess.

In a parliamentary session Prime Minister Kim Hwang-sik said that he will take measures against whoever is found to be at fault for the mistranslations including the trade minister.

The minister also told the Assembly that he offered his resignation to President Lee Myung-bak, but refused to elaborate.