National Assembly Industry Committee Adopts Resolution Supporting Yoo Myung-hee for WTO Director-General Candidate

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyemin] On the 19th, the National Assembly's Industry, Trade, Energy, Small and Medium Enterprises Committee adopted a resolution supporting Yoo Myung-hee, the Chief Trade Negotiator of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, who advanced to the final round of the next World Trade Organization (WTO) Director-General selection, with bipartisan agreement.

Chief Negotiator Yoo advanced to the third and final round along with Nigeria's Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, leaving only the last hurdle. If Yoo is ultimately selected, she will become the first Korean to hold the position of WTO Director-General.

The committee stated in the resolution, "With escalating trade disputes among major powers and a decline in global trade volume due to COVID-19, the WTO is facing its greatest crisis since its inception, and capable leadership from an international trade expert is urgently needed." It added, "Chief Negotiator Yoo has been thoroughly vetted by WTO member countries for her qualifications and capabilities as an international trade expert, and she is the right person to secure Korea's trade interests and restore the WTO's standing."

It also urged, "Please unite national capabilities and make every effort to ensure Chief Negotiator Yoo's election as WTO Director-General."

Meanwhile, this resolution was proposed by Lee Su-jin of the Democratic Party of Korea (Seoul Dongjak-eul).

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