Yoo Myung-hee, Director General, Launches Final Campaign for WTO Director-General Election (Comprehensive)

Departing for Europe Today... Scheduled Support Negotiations for Election Round 3

Yoo Myung-hee, head of trade negotiations at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, who advanced to the final round of the World Trade Organization (WTO) Secretary-General election, departs for Europe through Incheon International Airport in the early morning of the 13th for last-minute campaigning. (Image source=Yonhap News)

[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] Yoo Myung-hee, the head of the Trade Negotiation Department at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and the first Korean woman to run for Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), departed for Europe early on the 13th through Incheon International Airport.

She plans to conduct final lobbying efforts ahead of the upcoming final (3rd) round of consultations among member countries scheduled from the 19th to the 27th.

According to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, Director Yoo will visit Geneva, Switzerland, and major European countries during this trip to prepare for the member consultations in the final round of the WTO Director-General election.

Director Yoo will continue meetings with ministerial-level officials from various countries and WTO member ambassadors stationed in Geneva to carry out intensive final lobbying activities.

Previously, Director Yoo conducted lobbying activities through three visits to Europe and a visit to the United States, meeting with ministerial-level officials from member countries and WTO member ambassadors in Geneva.

The day before, President Moon Jae-in chaired a meeting related to Director Yoo’s WTO Director-General election campaign and discussed support strategies. President Moon plans to support candidate Yoo by sending letters to foreign heads of state and making phone calls.

Unlike the previous 1st and 2nd rounds, in the final round, each member country can vote for only one candidate.

The decision and announcement of the WTO Director-General candidate are expected to take place before the 7th of next month, after the 3rd round of consultations and the process in which David Walker, Chair of the WTO General Council, facilitates consensus among member countries.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.