Trade minister to attend WTO ministerial conference this week

Korean Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo will attend a ministerial conference of the World Trade Organization (WTO) later this week as the government's top representative, his office said Monday.

The 14th WTO Ministerial Conference (MC14) will be held from Thursday to Sunday (local time) in Yaounde, Cameroon, according the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources. As the organization's highest decision-making body, the conference will bring together representatives from more than 160 member countries.

Korea's delegation will include around 30 officials from the trade ministry and the foreign ministry, as well as other related agencies.

Yeo will serve as the "coordinator" for the WTO reform sessions, personally chairing four reform meetings to mediate differences among member countries and build consensus aimed at producing concrete outcomes, the ministry said.

Delegates are expected to engage in intense discussions on restoring the WTO's functions and reforming its institutions.

Korea aims to play a central role in guiding such reform discussions, moving beyond simple participation to help shape the organization's future, the ministry said.