Ruling Uri Party tells free-trade negotiators to ’slow down’

Lawmakers suggest placing legal curb on S.K.-U.S. FTA proceedings

The idea that the pace of negotiations on a free trade agreement (FTA) with the United States is too rapid has spread within the ruling Uri Party, with some lawmakers suggesting that there be legal controls placed on the process by the National Assembly.

"The constitutionally stipulated power the National Assembly has to vote on and ratify treaties has been interpreted to mean it gets to vote only after the fact," said Lee Sang-kyeong during a meeting of the Assembly’s Legislation and Judiciary Committee on Thursday. "Instead of approving agreements after the president has signed them, the National Assembly [should use] its authority in the true sense by participating in the process."

Mr. Lee suggested that a permanent special committee on free trade agreements be established, and that lawmakers pen a law on procedures for commerce-related treaties.

In a telephone interview, Choi Jae-cheon, also of the Uri Party, told the Hankyoreh that the National Assembly should appoint a representative to join Korea’s delegation to the negotiations, and that the executive branch needs to give the Assembly regular reports on the details of trade discussions with the U.S.

"If the Assembly puts measures in place that guarantee secrecy, the government should have no reason to keep the details a secret" from lawmakers, Mr. Choi said.

Kim Tae-hong, an Uri lawmaker who heads a study group called, "Assembly Members Worried About the FTA with the USA," said during an interview on SBS radio that the documentation the government is providing lawmakers is "insufficient insofar as being able to judge whether the FTA would be worthwhile or not."

"The government is showing the country a blueprint for a rose garden, but the information it is providing is criticized by some as having been manipulated," said Mr. Kim. "The growing concern is that if this FTA is approved, the whole country would be dealt a decisive blow," likening the force of financial impact to a tsunami. He said legislators need to join together and demand adequate information from the executive branch.

Also on Thursday, the Uri Party held a meeting with civic groups opposed to the FTA to listen to views critical of the process. Jeon Gi-hwan, the general secretary of a national farmers’ organization, told Uri members that farmers had "suffered too much" as a result of the Uruguay Round and the FTA Korea has with Chile. "The process has to be stopped completely so as to prevent further harm to farmers," Mr. Jeon said.

Kim Ki-sik of the Peoples’ Solidarity for Participatory Democracy (PSPD, or Chamyeo Yeondae) said the National Assembly has an "important role to play."

"The Assembly bears responsibility for ratification, so it should get actively involved in the negotiation process and review it" while it takes place, Mr. Kim said.