By Park Kyu-tae
It is a great impact to reach the Korea-US free trade agreement. We have been experiencing somehow economic depression and we are in some way longing for a turning point. It is true that a crisis soon is a chance. In last fourteen months of the negotiations for Korea-US FTA, we have been fretted about outcomes in the meetings at two countries. Finally, an epoch making agreement is reached. The accord includes cars, beef, fabrics, monetary services, broadcasting, medicines and intellectual rights.
In the negotiations there are by and large gains and losses as we have a counterpart to deal with. However it is a chance in a million to get to this historical settlement. Unquestionably the U.S. is one of the largest exporting markets for us. It is right time to drive the FTA for the national benefits until the final outcomes. Still we have quite some time to come to the ratification from Korea National Assembly and US Congress. In the mean time some ambiguities would be clarified to give solid support to the agreement.
It is fortunate to exclude rice at this time. We understand rice is our staple foods as well as it is a deep-rooted belief like a religion for Koreans. Even before 1950s over 95 percent of population were meager farmers. Living and endurance were totally dependent on the agricultural products. The rice among other crops had been a prime item and it has been a strict national discipline that agriculture forms the basis of national existence and it still resides deep in our minds.
Significantly, we are enjoying the pleasure of tastes for rice inherited from our forefathers. In addition to it, the rice had been monetary units and even it was a symbol of wealth to seek after. The rice is not just simple food stock but the soul mate of Koreans descending from thousands of years. After all the rice is our spirit and pride. That is why we have full affections for it.
Cultivating paddy engages in hard working labor but it is highly skilled arts like bringing up newborn babies. Waking up wee hours to sunset farmers are taking care of them with a flat-out effort. It is fair to say we are thoroughly descendents of farmers one way or the other and we took over their entire disposition, such as diligence, originality and refinement of personality.
We should not be surprised that successes of scientific research and IT industries are just about the coincidence but it is from our farmer-legacy. For instance, manufacturing of semiconductors needs coherent and articulate procedures as farmer’s nimble fingers are working in the fields. In the time of Korea-US FTA, Looking into cautiously our economy, the foreign trade share is more than 70 percent heavily defending on it.
The successful ways to lead Korea-US FTA are fair dealings and for Korea we should concentrate on more intensified scientific researches. Upgrading research institutes are one of the urgent matters and for the most part, basic research activities in universities are sources of industrial and economic gains. We can see even relatively small countries like Switzerland and Finland, for example, population of about 7.5 and 5.2 millions each and GDP per capita is $33,600 and $32,800 respectively. To live in affluence, they are carrying out rigorous researches in fine instruments and IT industries.
For example, Park Man-ki, Professor of Pharmacy, Seoul National University says “Korean ginseng has the most powerful medical power but a Swiss pharmaceutical company capsulated it and selling them as an enhancer of physical endurance by increasing the ability of the human body.” For IT industry, Dr. Skott Ahn, President of LG Mobile Communications Co. says, “We are proud of being world class cell phone makers. Although, now 2.3 billion cell phones are on the world market and still three quarters of global population are living without cellular phones. In coming years over 6 billion units are to be sold. Total sails in 2006 were one billion units and Korean share is only 18 percent all together.”
In reality, we have great chances to leap up taking the initiative in market and research with Korea-US FTA. We foresee Korea-EU, Korea-China-India-Russia FTA will follow provided with the Korea-US pact goes well. There is only way to have the best goods from research internationally organized. Offense is the best defense in this challenging FTA era.
The writer is professor emeritus at Yonsei University and a Korea Times columnist.