By Kim Young-jin
Former Korean Ambassador to the United States Han Duck-soo was tapped as chairman of the Korea International Trade Association (KITA), Friday, in what was seen as a move to defend the nation’s free trade agreement with the United States.
The announcement came a day after Han, who had a key role in passing the Korea-U.S. free trade agreement (KORUS FTA), abruptly stepped down as ambassador to Washington.
Observers said the move positions the career diplomat to help stave off demands from the opposition that the trade deal be renegotiated, as the KORUS FTA is shaping up to be a hot-button issue ahead of the April 11 general election.
Han, who is expected to be confirmed next week at a general meeting of the group, will replace current Chairman Sakong Il.
The move is notable as Han helped shape the deal under both liberal President Roh Moo-hyun as well as the incumbent conservative administration of Lee Myung-bak. He served as Roh’s prime minister between 2007 and 2008.
His appointment comes after the main opposition Democratic United Party’s (DUP) recent announcement that it would seek to nullify the pact, if it takes control of the National Assembly in the upcoming polls as well as Cheong Wa Dae in December.
The ruling Saenuri Party, formerly the Grand National Party, pushed the contested FTA signed in 2007 under the Roh government through parliament in November after it was approved by U.S. Congress the year before.
The DUP insists that the pact lost balance after renegotiations in 2010 under the Lee administration.
DUP leader Han Myeong-sook, who served as prime minister before Han Duk-soo, is expected to lead the charge to push for renegotiations. Proponents of the FTA likely hope the latter, as KITA head, could help neutralize the threat.
Campaign watchers say the DUP is likely to attempt to capitalize on the ruling camp’s legislation of the pact, as conservatives fight to manage perceptions that they are out of touch with public sentiment.
Perhaps underscoring the importance of the FTA issue, Han’s resignation came at a particularly busy time as the allies prepare for the Seoul Nuclear Security Summit next month, an initiative of U.S. President Barack Obama, and hammer out technical details related to the FTA.
KITA was established in 1946 to advance the local economy through trade. It is currently the largest business organization in Korea with over 69,000 member companies, according to its website.