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South Korea’s 17th National Assembly session ended March 29 without a ratification of the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement (KORUS FTA), despite a four-day emergency extension session. The KORUS FTA ratification has gotten caught up in domestic politics on both sides of the Pacific. In South Korea, in addition to being mired in the transfer of government to the former opposition Grand National Party (GNP), the FTA is tangled in a raging public debate over U.S. beef imports, mad cow disease and protection of South Koreans’ rights to free speech.
The issue of U.S. beef imports has become the focal point for residents opposed to the imports for health reasons as well as those opposed to the FTA, those opposed to the GNP and, recently, those complaining that the government is stifling free speech. Street protests against the beef import regulations have been increasing in frequency and number in Seoul in recent weeks. The now-opposition United Democratic Party (UDP) has pledged to join in, and more demonstrators have been arrested as the government takes a tough stance against illegal assembly. This, in turn, has led to a second wave of protesters coming out to challenge the government response and protect citizens’ rights to free speech and assembly.
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