By Jung Sung-ki
Staff Reporter

New South Korean Ambassador to the United States Han Duck-soo said Wednesday that he would put a top priority on the early ratification of the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement (KORUS FTA) signed in 2007.

Han, 59, anticipated, however, that passage by the U.S. Congress under President Barack Obama's administration could require hard work, while calling on South Korea's National Assembly to approve the landmark trade deal as soon as possible.

''It will take more time and effort (to get approval from the U.S. Congress) than expected,'' Han, who served as prime minister between 2007 and 2008, told reporters in Seoul, Wednesday ahead of his departure for Washington D.C. March 9.

''I plan to meet with U.S. policymakers, U.S. lawmakers and parties concerned to discuss the issue after taking office,'' he said.

He painted a bright picture for the FTA ratification, stressing the two governments share the importance and need for the bilateral trade deal, which could help develop the half-century-long Korea-U.S. alliance into a broader one that covers not only security affairs but also economic and social issues.

Leaders of the two countries also have the same principle against trade protectionism and share the view that free trade accords are the ''stepping stone'' toward global trade liberalization, said Han.

The Obama administration has not made any proposal on renegotiations of the trade deal, he noted. There is speculation that the new U.S. government will want to review or renegotiate the KORUS FTA, swayed by a more protectionist Democratic-led Congress.

During the presidential campaign last year, Obama expressed opposition to the trade deal, calling it ''badly flawed.'' He claimed, in particular, that it wouldn't do enough to increase U.S. auto sales.

Earlier this week, the Obama administration announced that it would ''promptly and responsibly'' address free trade agreements with South Korea, Colombia and Panama, which have yet to receive Congressional approval.

According to a report submitted to Congress last week by the Trade Representative, the U.S. administration is in the process of mapping out a plan of action to move the trade deals through Congress as quickly as possible.

Han pledged efforts to strengthen coordination with the U.S. government on the North Korean nuclear issue, the transition of wartime operational control of Korean troops from the U.S. to South Korea in 2012 and the relocation of U.S. military bases to south of the Han River in the coming years.

gallantjung@koreatimes.co.kr

Parties to Vote on US FTA in April The governing and opposition parties have tentatively agreed to ratify the free trade agreement (FTA) with the United States during the National Assembly session in April, party officials said. The agreement was made at a meeting of lawmakers of the ruling Grand National Party, the main opposition Democratic Party and a coalition of two minor opposition parties, Wednesday. A motion to ratify the trade deal is awaiting approval by an Assembly committee. If approved, the motion will be presented to the main floor for a vote.