Leader vows to scrap pact; party sends correspondence to U.S. presidentThe main opposition Democratic United Party once again pressed the government to renegotiate the disputed clauses of the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement within the month.
It also threatened to repeal the pact altogether if the party takes power in this year’s elections, should the deal take effect as scheduled without the requested revisions.
The trade deal, first signed in 2007 and then modified in December 2010, was approved by the ruling party-controlled parliament in November despite strong objections from opposition parties that claimed the pact favors the U.S.
“The Lee Myung-bak administration’s free trade deal is against national interest and should not take effect as it is,” said chairwoman Han Myeong-sook in the party’s Supreme Council meeting Wednesday.
“We pledge to annul the agreement at all costs in the next parliamentary and government term, unless the necessary amendments are made in time.”
The deal’s effectuation was based on foul play, as the ruling party snap-passed the bill in a parliamentary general meeting last year, she also claimed.
“The bill may have been passed forcefully but should be stopped from having its unjust effects,” she said.
The left-wing party also sent out an official correspondence to U.S. President Barack Obama and to the respective heads of the Senate and the House of Representatives, requesting them to reconsider the deal and halt its given timeline.
“The revision is crucial as it goes beyond just the Investor-State Dispute clause,” said Han.
“The current deal is also in violation of fundamental democratic policies such as economic justice, financial regulations and community spirit.”
The party’s decision-making body adopted a resolution last month to abolish the trade deal, shortly after being elected through a national convention.
The DUP leader also took aim at the government’s economic policies.
“Only the top 10 firms have benefited from the corporate tax cut policy,” Han said.
“The nation’s current state reflects the policy failure of the administration and of the ruling party.”
By Bae Hyun-jung (
tellme@heraldcorp.com)
