People of Gwangju on the KORUS FTA

With the passing of the U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement (KORUS FTA), opinions have been strong on its ratification. Multiple demonstrations have been held in Seoul denouncing the agreement, erupting in violent clashes with the police.

Vehement confrontation has also occurred in the National Assembly itself, resulting in an anti-Grand National Party member lobbing tear gas at the political opposition.

This intense hostility is the scene that is playing out in Seoul, but how do local residents in Gwangju feel about the recent FTA ratification? Is the mood just as heated, if not more, or is it more passive? A random sampling of Gwangju natives and residents were given an opportunity to express themselves on the following questions:

1. How much do you know about KORUS FTA? How were you informed?
2. What do you think are the benefits and drawbacks of KORUS?
3. What should change to make KORUS fair?
4. Do you think protesters are overreacting? (Throwing tear gas in the congress, fighting with the police, etc.)

Given the sensitivity of the subject, the participants have chosen to remain anonymous, giving only basic background information themselves.

Profession: Business    Age: 27     Nationality: Korean

1. If countries signed the FTA, they will eliminate tariffs, import quotas, and preferences on most goods and services traded between them.
2. If we have the FTA with the U.S., the Korean economy will grow so much because the U.S. is one of the top countries that Korea is exporting to.
3. The Korean government needs to create some way to make farmers or other people live with the FTA (because most of people who are protesting are farmers, I think.)
4. No. If I were them, I would probably do same thing.

Profession: Student       Age: 20      Nationality: Korean

1. I just know the meaning of “FTA.” Also, I heard it was kind of an unfair agreement similar to the treaty that gave Japan control of Korea in 1905.
2. I heard there were only a few merits. For example, according to the FTA, we don’t need to pay much on imported cars and some goods.
3. I think many politicians who are eager to keep their prestige will jump on the wagon to make a fair agreement. First of all, I think they must think about their position (they have to know what to do as politicians), and they need to listen to the people over and over again. If politicians do these things, they could make the FTA fair.
4. I wonder if all the protesters know about the FTA. I guess some of the protesters really don’t understand the FTA. It’s ridiculous how they are acting and I don’t understand how they could do that. Their demonstration is not serious.

Profession: Native English teacher     Age: 20s      Nationality: American

1. I suppose I’m more informed than most Americans on the subject, but to be honest, I don’t feel that informed. While there is a lot of government material available online about the subject, there hasn’t been a lot of detailed information in the English/American mainstream media. I’m sure Koreans have read more about the subject than I.
2. I don’t think I’ll be in Korea to see much of the advantages (as it will take some time to take effect). But in short, we’ll see a lot more foreign products in the stores, and products that already exist will be much, much cheaper. As it is right now, we pay 1/3 -2/3 more for a product than it would cost in the States. That sucks. It will also be nice when the tariffs on imports, even for personal use, disappear.
   The disadvantages are all on the Korean side as far as I see it. America is going to import more Korean products. Okay, fine. Maybe I’ll buy some Korean product, maybe I won’t. But America is already saturated with foreign products, so it’s not going to affect us as a country.
   Korea, on the other hand, is just getting into the globalization game, and Koreans are very much resisting it. It’s new, and different from the ways they know, and that frightens them. To stay viable in the global community Korea is going to have to find some new niche market to enter into.
3. I honestly don’t know. I’m sure Koreans perceive it as being unfair, but for me? I just care about buying American foods at E-mart.
4. Yes, they’re absolutely overreacting. By all means, occupy the capital, write letters to your leaders and phone them non-stop. Write opinion pieces to the newspapers. Get on the local news. Make your voice heard. But the moment you start hurting other people as part of your protest, you’ve crossed the line and your protest becomes meaningless. Instead of your cause being the news story, you’re the story, and that makes you an idiot.

Profession: Housekeeper     Age: 30s      Nationality: Korean

1. Through TV and newspapers.
2. People can get things at cheap prices.
3. The FTA is not meant for Korea but for the United States, which is a bigger and stronger country. It cannot be fair because of the purpose of the FTA.
4. The way of expression is overreacting, but it is also part of our culture. If you know about the history of Korea, you might understand how we became a democracy. There will be a lot of problems in Korea as a result of this, especially if the rich get richer and the poor are worse off.

Profession: Radio writer      Age: 32      Nationality: Korean

1. Not very much. I know it’s about agricultural trade. And there has been heated dispute. But that’s all. Nothing specific.
2. In the short term, consumers would like it because things are cheap at the market. But in the long term, the price of Korean products rises. Farmers will suffer, which will affect consumers, and ultimately the entire country will suffer from the inflation of Korean products.
3. No idea.
4. That’s overreacting, but understandable. They just wanted to block the ratification at all costs.

Profession: Teacher           Age: 40s      Nationality: Korean

1. I know a little.
2. I think there are good points and bad points. First of al,l motor companies will be able to earn more money than before. However, farmers will become more impoverished.
3. The government should support the farmers.
4. Yes, I do. Especially throwing tear gas in the Congress. That is the worst. We should talk peacefully.

This small sampling of questionnaire applicants does not necessarily reflect the views of Gwangju as a whole, but it does give us more insight into how common people view this issue.

By Wil Rawlins

Photo from eastasiaforum.org

A version of this article appeared in the January 2012 issue of Gwangju News.