SOUTH KOREA: Thousands of angry farmers rally against free trade deals with the United States

Record ID: 212624

  • Title: SOUTH KOREA: Thousands of angry farmers rally against free trade deals with the United States
  • Date: 7th October 2011
  • Summary: FARMERS TEARING U.S. NATIONAL FLAG
  • Embargoed: 22nd October 2011 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Korea, Republic of
  • Country: South Korea
  • Topics: International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVAC142F1TTERDFVVF2IGYLTM4VG
  • Story Text: Thousands of South Korean farmers held a rally in Seoul on Thursday (October 6) against free trade deals with the United States.
    More than 10,000 farmers gathered at Yoido Park in Seoul to denounce the government. They wore headbands and chanted slogans like "Oppose FTA!" and "Let's fight for our right to live."
    "The government is strongly trying to ratify the FTA with the United States. However, the domestic agricultural industry is not ready and the deal will collapse our production infrastructure. We're strongly condemning the government which doesn't know the reality. We're also calling on our politicians to come up with responsible counter-measures," said Kim Jun-bong, leader of the farmers' rally.
    Angry protesters burned a bier, symbolising the death of the domestic agricultural industry. Police used water cannon to put out the fire.
    The rally was triggered after U.S. President Barack Obama formally submitted pacts to Congress for approval of free trade deals with South Korea, Colombia and Panama on Monday (October 3).
    The three deals were all negotiated during the Republican administration of President George W. Bush, but he was unable to win approval for them from a wary Democratic-controlled Congress before leaving office in January 2009.
    Obama has touted the trade deals as a vital part of his effort to revitalise the stagnant U.S. recovery and generate new jobs, considered crucial to his 2012 re-election chances.
    Monday's development should help smooth the way for South Korean President Lee Myung-bak's Oct. 13 visit to the White House. The South Korea pact is the largest of its kind since the North American Free Trade Agreement, which went into force in 1994.
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