Photos Fwd: Rally to Stop the Korea-US Free Trade Agreement

* Photo info from Steve Zeltzer on Jan. 16, 2011

Rally to Stop the Korea-US Free Trade Agreement (Jan. 14, 2011)
Click the link
http://www.flickr.com/photos/eclipserising/5358566011/in/set-72157625833125122/

Text Fwd: Korean Opposition calls for nullifying KORUS FTA

Rep. Kang Ki-kab of the opposition Democratic Labor Party, at the podium, together with other lawmakers who oppose the Korea-U.S. FTA, speaks at the National Assembly, Tuesday. / Korea Times photo by Oh Dae-geun


* Text, thanks to Steve Zelter on Dec. 31, 2010

Korea Times
Opposition calls for nullifying KORUS FTA

By Lee Tae-hoon

A group comprising of 43 opposition lawmakers Tuesday called on the government to nullify the free trade agreement (FTA) between South Korea and the United States.

The legislators from the main opposition Democratic Party and such minor opposition as Liberty Forward and Democratic Labor parties said that the renegotiated free trade pact between the two countries was an “unequal, behind-closed doors” negotiation.

“It’s a pact that can inadvertently make a majority of the citizens of Korea and the United States a victim,” they said. The legislators jointly held a meeting with the “pan-national campaign headquarters to oppose KORUS FTA” at the National Assembly.

Rep. Sohn Hak-kyu, chairman of the DP, also opposed the KORUS FTA, during his speech on KBS radio.

The KORUS FTA was signed in 2007 under the Bush administration, but the bilateral pact remained in a deadlock over U.S. demands for wider access to the Korean auto and beef markets.
The new FTA supplemental agreement gives U.S. automakers more access to Korea. In return, Korea, which has refused to discuss the issue of beef, has received some concessions such as a two-year delay in tariff reductions on American pork.

Text Fwd: Renegotiating the KOREA-US FTA. American Hegemony and the "Dismantling" of the Office of the Minister for Trade

* Text sent from Steve Zeltzer on Dec. 16, 2010
Japan Focus
Renegotiating the KOREA-US FTA. American Hegemony and the "Dismantling" of the Office of the Minister for Trade
[The original Korean text is available here]
Lee Hae-young

On December 3, 2010 South Korea and the United States announced that they had reached agreement on a new KOREA-US FTA with comprise agreements on both automobiles and agriculture. The agreement may face difficult hurdles in the legislatures of both countries that must ratify it. This article examines the process and politics that led to the agreement.-U.S. Free Trade


Whether the Free Trade Agreement reached between South Korea and the United States (KORUS FTA) prior to the November 12 Seoul G20 Summit constituted a hasty "renegotiation" of the 2007 Treaty to comply with US demands on the eve of President Barak Obama’s visit to Seoul, is no longer just a matter of semantics. Of course, it is apparent why the Lee Myung-bak administration -- as well as certain news outlets under its influence -- has doggedly insisted on referring to the negotiations by a different name. First, this was to hide the fact that the administration's declaration of "no renegotiation" had failed. Second, it was a kind of ploy to avoid a National Assembly review, the argument being that no such review was required since this was not "renegotiation." However hard the Lee administration has worked to conceal it, the U.S. press with its freedom of speech has provided a detailed account of virtually all matters. And one can even find a fair amount of information trickling through the South Korean press as well.


It took fierce resistance to renegotiation in South Korea to prevent the two presidents from announcing the conclusion of the FTA as planned during Obama’s visit to Seoul for the G20 Summit.



READ MORE

Text Fwd:CWA on the proposed Korea-U.S. Trade Agreement-Does Not Defend US Or Korean Workers 제안된 한미 무역 협정에 대한 미국 통신 노동자들 성명서

* Texts sent from Steve Zeltzer on Dec. 15, 2010
Communications Workers of America
STATEMENT BY THE COMMUNICATIONS WORKERS OF AMERICA ON THE PROPOSED KOREA-U.S.TRADE AGREEMENT
For release
Thursday, Dec. 9, 2010

Contact: Candice Johnson or Chuck Porcari, CWA Communications, 202-434-1168, cjohnson@cwa-union.org and cporcari@cwa-union.org

Washington, D.C.-- In July 2010, delegates to the CWA Convention called on the Administration to renegotiate the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement (KORUS) to enhance “larger societal goals of economic justice, sustainable communities and a sound environment, and human rights, including trade union rights.” CWA also urged the Administration to incorporate workers’ rights into the legislation that would implement KORUS. Since then, CWA has engaged in discussions with the AFL-CIO and Administration to improve KORUS.

The proposed agreement, as announced, does include positive improvements that address UAW and labor concerns about jobs in the automotive sector, including auto parts operations where IUE-CWA represents thousands of workers. Further, CWA also recognizes and appreciates the national security value of this agreement with South Korea.

However, this agreement does not meet the criteria adopted by CWA.

This agreement gives investment and legal protections to large multi-national corporations which shift jobs offshore in search of the lowest labor and environmental costs and highest profits. With no counter balance, multi-national corporations whipsaw workers and nations to prevent and eliminate bargaining rights. KORUS, as negotiated, does not create an economic and collective bargaining rights framework to support the aspirations of US and Korean workers.

The language and protections covering investments and government procurement programs, and particularly, rule of origin provisions that allow up to 65 percent foreign content, disadvantage both South Korean and U.S. workers, particularly when compared to the pending agreement between the European Union and Korea.

Our current economic climate simply cannot support a trade agreement that does not address U.S. workers’ rights and will cost more U.S. jobs. Further, the Korean union movement strongly opposes the agreement. So long as KORUS falls short of protecting the broad interests of American and Korean workers in these uncertain economic times, we will oppose it.
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See also

Korea-U. S. FTA
The UAW supports the KORUS FTA While Trumka Tells Demo Pol " the AFL-CIO would might decide to skip a fight with the White House over South Korea to preserve its leverage in China policy"

Alliance for Global Justice
Campaign for Labor Rights: Call on the AFL-CIO to Stop Free Trade
Call on the AFL-CIO to Stop KORUS Agreement Says Campaign For Labor Rights

Poster Fwd: Pan-Korean People's Rally on Dec. 18

*Image source: Korean Alliance of Progressive Movements; Pan-Korean Alliance for Reunification, South Korean branch; and many other Korean organization sites

Pan Korean People’s Rally:
Lee Myung-Bak OUT!

No War! Convert the Hyundae irregular jobs to regular jobs!
No ROK-US FTA! No Four River Project!
Seoul Square/ 3pm, Dec. 18, 2010

Click the image for larger view
이미지를 클릭하시면 확대됩니다.

Text Fwd: [One step further for multilateral alliance] S. Korea, Malaysia seek bilateral FTA, closer ties on energy, defense 남한, 말레이시아와 경제, 국방 동맹

* Image source: click HERE

* The banner reads

Press interview to denounce the talk between the ROK-US Joint Chiefs of Staff
Stop the talk on the abuse of illegal self-defense right,
which heightens the danger of an extended war in the Korea peninsula!
1pm, Dec. 8, 2010/ front gate of the Joint Chiefs of Staff building/ Solidarity for Peace And Reunification of Korea

____________________________________________

Right after Hillary Clinton made her steps with the personnel of Japan and S. Korea on Dec. 6, 2010:

(See

U. S. Dept of State: Trilateral Statement Japan, Republic of Korea, and the United States
Dec. 6, 2010 U.S. Depart. of State: Remarks with Japanese Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara and South Korean Foreign Minister Kim Sung-hwan Dec. 6, 2010)
Text Fwd: S.Korea, U.S. and Japan convene tripartite talks

Mullen, the joint Chief of Staffs, implemented Clinton's step by visiting to Seoul and Tokyo during Dec. 8 to 9.

( http://www.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=62022)

In the above article, we see how Mullen sees the significance of the multilateral alliance:

'Noting the 42 nations contributing troops in Afghanistan, Mullen called multilateral cooperation “the way of the future.”

And it is very today, Dec. 10 that we see the below article. The reactionary Lee Myung-Bak government is drawing its people to more humiliating and aggressive condition of the U.S.-ROK alliance( FTA in economic matter, multilateral military alliance in the military matter). And South Korea is now being more integrated into the strategy of the U.S. and NATO (as Rick Rozoff has constantly worked on it) as we can glance in the below article.

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Yonhap News

S. Korea, Malaysia seek bilateral FTA, closer ties on energy, defense

2010/12/10 16:16 KST

By Lee Chi-dong
PUTRAJAYA, Malaysia, Dec. 10 (Yonhap) -- South Korea and Malaysia agreed Friday to push for a bilateral free trade agreement (FTA) and step up cooperation on energy and defense.

The summit deal reached at a meeting between South Korean President Lee Myung-bak and Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak in Putrajaya came as the two sides mark the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations this year.

[..]

In their talks held at the prime minister's office in Putrajaya, an administrative city just south of Kuala Lumpur, Lee and Najib also agreed to further enhance defense cooperation between their countries, according to the joint statement. South Korea views Malaysia, along with Indonesia, as a major regional partner for weaponry development and trade.

The leaders agreed to promote both government- and civilian-level collaboration on oil and gas exploration, and production and the development of green technology, bio-technology and information and communications technology.

South Korea, the world's No. 2 liquefied natural gas (LNG) buyer after Japan, imported 25.8 million tons of LNG last year, 23 percent of which came from Malaysia, government data showed.

South Korea-Malaysia partnerships, traditionally boosted by cooperation on natural resources, are now expanding to renewable energy development, such as solar power and electric car battery production, as well as education and culture.

In addition, the leaders agreed to "further cooperate on peaceful uses of nuclear energy" as stated in a 2009 pact between their related government agencies.

Malaysia is a potential market for South Korea's nuclear power technology exports, which were spurred by its US$20 billion contract with the United Arab Emirates a year ago to construct nuclear reactors there.

See also

Stop NATO (* Text sent from Rick Rozoff on Dec. 10, 2010)
Malaysia, Indonesia To Boost Military Ties With South Korea

Yonhap News
President Lee seeks support for S. Korea-Malaysia ties on nuclear energy
2010/12/10 19:23 KST
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Otherwise, please check the below


Download the PDF File(source: End the Korean War)
Factsheet: WEST SEA CRISIS IN KOREA (informed at the SPARK site)

	factsheet2--west_sea_crisis_in_korea--2010-12-011.pdf 823K View Download

[End the Korean War] Peace Bulletin PDF (* informed on Nov. 9, 2010)
Location: http://endthekoreanwar.org/phplist/dl.php?id=6

Text Fwd: U.S. to request broad changes to KORUS FTA 미국, 한미 FTA 에 더 넓은 변경들을 요구하다

* Image source: same as the link

U.S. President Barack Obama wears a troubled expression as he holds a news conference after the Democratic Party’s midterm elections defeat at the White House, Nov. 3. (Reuters Yonhap)

Hankyoreh
U.S. to request broad changes to KORUS FTA Some ruling party lawmakers have joined the opposition’s criticism of the Lee administration’s decision to formalize renegotiations
Posted on : Nov.20,2010

By Jung Eun-joo and Seong Yeon-cheol

U.S. President Barack Obama declared his intention to examine demands from the U.S. Congress to modify provisions regarding labor, investment, and finance in renegotiations of the South Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement (KORUS FTA).

According to Reuters and Inside U.S. Trade, Obama expressed this position at a meeting in which nine Representatives from the U.S. Democratic Party’s Trade Working Group who are opposed to the KORUS FTA were summoned to the White House on Thursday (local time) and asked for their cooperation. Obama also told the Representatives that if they submitted a list of additional concerns, he would consider the items and pursue them during the negotiation process with South Korea, Maine Representative Mike Michaud reported.

Michaud and the other Representatives submitted a press release in which they asked Obama for protection of worker interests and reduction of offshore processing through stronger labor standards, a revival of U.S. manufacturing through mutualism, and expanded exports by small and medium enterprises (SMEs). They also requested U.S. economic security through a reduction in the trade deficit, the prevention of financial crisis, and a balance between consumption and production.

READ MORE

Texy Fwd: Administration prepares for formal KORUS FTA renegotiation 행정부, 공식적인 한-미 재햡상 준비

Hankyoreh
Administration prepares for formal KORUS FTA renegotiation
:Though auto and beef provisions remain most contentious, complete renegotiations could spell changes in other sectors
Nov. 19, 2010
By Jung Eun-joo　

The Lee Myung-bak administration officially announced Thursday that renegotiations are to take place on the South Korea-United States Free Trade Agreement (KORUS FTA).

In a press briefing at the Central Government Complex on Seoul’s Sejongno Road, FTA negotiator Choi Suk-young said, “To date, we have used the term ‘discussion,’ but in order to deal with the official plan presented by the United States at the bilateral trade ministers’ meeting, we will have to approach items involving revisions to the agreement text.”

However, Choi stressed that this would a partial renegotiation dealing only with the U.S. demands rather than a full renegotiation.

“We are not taking the whole thing apart and putting it back together,” Choi said. “We are carrying out extremely limited partial renegotiation in order to discuss the items presented by the United States.”

At the bilateral trade ministers’ meeting and working-level trade discussions ahead of the Seoul G-20 Summit, the U.S. demanded full revision of the existing agreement text, including the extension of the deadline for abolishing the 2.5 percent tariff on Korean automobiles, the introduction of safeguards in the automobile sector, and the abolition of duty drawback for automobile parts.

Choi’s briefing Thursday marks the first time Seoul has announced the renegotiations with the United States to the press.

READ MORE

Text Fwd: [Hankyoreh Editorial] Bringing fairness to the KORUS FTA 한미 FTA 에 공정함을 가져오기

Hankyoreh한겨레
[Editorial] Bringing fairness to the KORUS FTA
Posted on : Nov.18,2010

Trade Minister Kim Jong-hoon’s confirmation that the U.S. government forcefully demanded revisions to the text of the South Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement (KORUS FTA) during negotiations last week is cause for concern. This confirmation came during a meeting of the National Assembly’s Foreign Affairs, Trade and Unification Committee meeting. Kim also said he intended to “continue discussions toward guiding out an alternative that both sides can accept.” In short, he declared his willingness to accept renegotiations aimed at amending the text of the agreement.

Up until this point, the Lee Myung-bak administration, which has led KORUS FTA negotiations, has responded to popular calls for revisions to provisions disadvantageous to South Korea by steadfastly maintaining that there would be “no renegotiation.” It has also led FTA discussions without consulting National Assembly lawmakers, and relevant groups including the auto, agriculture, and textile sectors.

These calls for removing disadvantages grew in force as the Lee administration agreed to discuss additional demands from the United States. After ignoring all the critical public opinion and revision demands from politicians, however, it immediately complied when the U.S. applied pressure. The Lee administration’s attitude suggests that it will close its ears to domestic demands while acceding to those of the United States. The trade minister says that they are searching for a plan agreeable to both countries, but the formalizing renegotiations is nothing more than a procedure for finding additional ways to make concessions to the United States.

READ MORE

Text Fwd: Trade minister confirms additional U.S. FTA demands 통상부 장관, 미국의 추가 FTA 요구 확인

Hankyoreh
Trade minister confirms additional U.S. FTA demands
:Kim admitted KORUS FTA renegotiations which need to revise the existing agreement
Posted on : Nov.17, 2010
By Jung Eun-joo
　　
Trade Minister Kim Jong-hoon’s recent briefing at the National Assembly on talks with the U.S. over the South Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement (KORUS FTA) has raised concerns over further U.S. demands for revisions. Minister Kim confirmed that the U.S. demanded revisions not only to non-tariff barriers such as safety standards and environmental regulations in the auto provisions, but also to a previously agreed-upon tariff abolition plan during the KORUS FTA renegotiations that took place prior to the G-20 Summit in Seoul.

While attending a meeting of the National Assembly’s Foreign Affairs, Trade and Unification Committee on Tuesday, Trade Minister Kim explained the results of his meeting with U.S. Trade Representative Ronald Kirk in Seoul on Nov. 8 to 10.

in regards to the trade ministers’ meeting, “Renegotiation means discussing revisions to the agreement text,” Kim said.

“The U.S. made demands that would require revising the agreement text, and the South Korean government expressed the position that this was unacceptable.”

This marks the first time Kim has acknowledged that the meeting with the U.S. was in fact for renegotiation.

READ MORE

Photo Fwd: Obama should enter the talk for peace agreement in the Korean peninsula! 오바마는 한반도 평화 협정 체결을 위한 대화에 나서라

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* Related blogs

Friday, November 12, 2010
Text Fwd: 'No waver in commitment to security of S. Korea' (*Obama in the Yongsan USFK base speech )
남한의 안보에 대한 사명감에 어떠한 지연도 없을 것(*오바마, 용산 미군 기지 연설)

Friday, November 12, 2010
Photos Fwd: [Upon the ROK-US summit meeting] Abolish the FTA! Resume the NK-US talks! No ROK-US alliance!
[사진] 자유 무역 협정 폐기하라! 북미 대화 재개하라! 한미 동맹 폐기하라!

Thursday, November 11, 2010
Text Fwd: [Translation] The problems of the ROK-US summit meeting
[번역] 한미 정상 회담의 문제점들

[In Update] People’s Response Action against G-20
[엎데이트중] G20대응민중행동
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* Image source: Solidarity for Peace And Reunification of Korea 평통사 클릭

Obama should enter the talk for peace agreement in the Korean peninsula!
In front of the Yongsan USFK base, 10am, Nov. 11, 2010

Obama should mot make South Korea as the first victim of U. S. economic crisis
through the FTA and G20!
The United States government should not make South Koreans pay for her military burden!
Do not transfer all the burden for base relocation cost to Koreans!

Photos Fwd: [Upon the ROK-US summit meeting] Abolish the FTA! Resume the NK-US talks! No ROK-US alliance! [한미 정상 회담 즈음] FTA 폐기! 북미 대화 재개! 한-미 동맹 폐기!

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* Related blogs

[In Update] People’s Response Action against G-20
[엎데이트중] G20대응민중행동

Friday, November 12, 2010
Text Fwd: 'No waver in commitment to security of S. Korea' (*Obama)
남한의 안보에 대한 사명감에 어떠한 지연도 없을 것(*오바마)

Thursday, November 11, 2010
Text Fwd: [Translation] The problems of the ROK-US summit meeting
[번역] 한미 정상 회담의 문제점들
_________________________________________________________

Civil organizations’ joint press interview
Abolish the FTA- Infringement of economic sovereignty, destruction of people’s survival rights!
Resume the NK-US talks! No ROK-US alliance! Yes, peace treaty!
In front of the Presidential House, Seoul, 12pm, Nov. 11, 2010
Labor Front; Korea Confederation of Trade Unions; Democratic Labor Party; Anti-War Peace Solidarity; Revolution 4.19 Committee*; Socialist Party of Korea; People’s Solidarity for Social Progress; Living with Jejus; Research Institute for the Spirit of Jeon Tae-Il*; New Progressive Party; Catholic Association for Justice; Solidarity for Peace And Reunification of Korea; Korea Alliance of Progressive Movements; AWC_ Korea

___________________________________________________________

Click the images for larger view
이미지들을 클릭하시면 확대됩니다.

Photos Fwd: Koreans Oppose FTA and G20, in solidarity with the people in the United States and world 한국인들, 미국과 세계의 민중과 함께 FTA 와 G20 반대

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* Related blog

[In Update] People’s Response Action against G-20
[엎데이트중] G20대응민중행동
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* About the current status of the ROK-US FTA Talks, refer to:
Hankyoreh Irregular KORUS FTA concessions draw criticism :Some say irregular renegotiations point to the Lee administration’s unilateral push for ratification Posted on : Nov.10,2010
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* Please notice the photographers' credits.
_______________________________________________________

1. Photo & caption source: Benjamin Hiller, Nov. 10, 2010

G20 Seoul: Korean Confederation of Trade Unions rally
'The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions rallied today near the Soul City Hall against the G20 Summit starting tomorrow as well as against the FTA agreement. Around 300 people participated at the rally. Seoul, Korea.'

A protester holding a candle in his hands. It is a reminiscence to the candlelight protest in 2008, when 1 Million people protested at the streets. Seoul, Korea.

A masked female protester listens to the speeches at the rally.

Party members from the Democratic Labor Party at the rally site. Seoul, Korea.

Activist from Europe and Korea joined together the rally against the G20 Summit. Seoul, Korea.

Activist stage a performance on the stage. Seoul, Korea. 10/11/2010.
'Let's success the spirit of Jeon Tae-Il'

'The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions rallied today near the Soul City Hall against the G20 Summit starting tomorrow as well as against the FTA agreement.

Around 300 people participated at the rally; there where activists from the Democratic Labor Party Sit In as well as foreign activist, which arrived in the last day. Charles Santigo from the Malaysia Parliament held also an speech.

Several hundred Riot Cops where in guard in the surrounding streets.'

SEE MORE PHOTOS by Benjamin Hiller in Demotix
_______________________________________________________

2. Photo & Caption source: Jeffrey Bright, Nov. 10, 2010

Korean Confederation of Trade Unions hold a Protest
Korean Confederation of Trade Unions Candlelight Cultural Event with international activists and representatives at Boshingak, Jongno street. 10/11/2010

No G20 that throws to people the responsibility for an economic crisis!

* Recently, one of the KEC union leaders set fire on his body while he was to be arrested by police who were secretly asked to be mobilized by the company president. The KEC workers are now in hard struggle to save their union.

'The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) is a national trade union centre officially established in 1995. Its predecessor was the National Council of Trade Unions (NCTU), established in 1990 as an independent alternative to the Federation of Korean Trade Unions.

With 682,418 members in 2007, the KCTU accounted for 40.6% of trade union members in South Korea. In 2008, during massive "mad cow protests" the KCTU declared a general strike to protest the import of US beef on grounds that consuming the allegedly tainted beef could damage worker productivity The KCTU has more than 1,200 affiliated enterprise-level trade unions.

It is the second largest trade union national center in South Korea, following the Federation of Korean Trade Unions (FKTU). On 1 April 2009, KCTU delegates at a special session elected Lim Seong-kyu as President. Of the two, the KCTU is generally considered to be the more militant. Korean Confederation of Trade Unions Candlelight Cultural Event with international activists and representatives at Boshingak, Jongno street.'

SEE MORE PHOTOS by Jeffrey Bright in Demotix
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3. Photos from Yoon Ji-Yeon, NewsCham, Nov. 10, 2010

'South Korea and United States Workers are determined to work in had in hand against ROK-US FTA'

The banner reads: It is the will of people. Abolish the ROK-US FTA!

The performance make satire of Obama who enforces automobile sale to South Korea with much relieved measure for her advantage through an additional document form of the FTA, and also President Lee Myung Bak who is subordinate to the United States but oppresses his people.

Photos Fwd: No FTA! No MD! No US-ROK alliance but Yes, Peace treaty! 한미FTA 반대! 미사일 방어망 반대! 자유 무역 협정 반대! 그러나 평화 협정은 예스!

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* More details come later on . Please come by later.
* ROK means Republic of Korea.
______________________________________________________

* All the image source: Solidarity for Peace And Reunification of Korea, Nov. 9, 2010
평화와 통일을 여는 사람들, 2010년 11월 9일(클릭)

아래 집회의 국문 성명서는 여기를 클릭.

한미정상회담에 즈음한 134차 자주통일평화행동

134 Self-Reliance, Unification and Peace Action
upon the ROK-US Summit meeting

대미 종속 심화하는 한미FTA 반대한다!
We oppose ROK-US FTA that deepens the ROK subordination to the United States!

2010. 11. 9. 12시 미 대사관 앞
In front of the United States Embassy, 12pm, Nov. 9, 2010

What will be achieved by the ROK-US summit meeting, this time?
Compromise on the ROK-US FTA/
Sanction & oppression against North Korea with joining Missile Defense/
and permanent & subordinate ROK-US alliance!

Activists delivered a protest letter to the United States embassy.

ROK-US FTA? Absolutely No!!(SPARK)

A performance during the rally (Original photo source: Yonhap News)
The United States is stepping on South Korean military sovereignty by agreeing with the ROK government that has proposed the former a postponement of the transition of the Operational Control right for its own interest. For the latest development of the ROK-US alliance, see HERE.

Peace Agreement is the only way that will make silent
of the belligerent policies of the United States government.
Throwing shoes to the aggressors could be another way.

Text Fwd: DP finalizes position on KORUS FTA renegotiations 민주당,한-미 재협상에 대한 최종 입장 정리

Hankyoreh
DP finalizes position on KORUS FTA renegotiations
: The party remains divided over the best way to respond to additional concessions by the Lee administration
By Lee Se-young
Nov. 3, 2010

Debate has intensified a decision remains imminent for the Democratic Party’s official position on the South Korea-United States Free Trade Agreement (KORUS FTA).

During its sixth meeting on Tuesday, the Democratic Party’s special FTA Committee worked to harmonize opinions on the content of its final report. This report reportedly includes a presentation of party opinions on the FTA, organized into arguments for rejecting negotiations for additional concessions and arguments for full renegotiation. Lawmakers have compared strengths and weaknesses of both strategies.

An official with the special committee said, “Because of benefits such as the ability to maintain consistency with the past party platform and the possibility of highlighting the administration and ruling party’s responsibility for additional concessions and linking that to a battle against the future ratification bill, the weight inevitably shifted in favor of the argument against renegotiation.”

On the arguments for full renegotiations, which has been espoused by Supreme Council members Chung Dong-young and Chun Jung-bae, among others, one benefit that was reportedly brought up was the possibility of emphasizing clarity as an opposition party and establishing a foothold for opposition solidarity. However, a number of committee members reportedly expressed concern that a change in party platform could lead to the burden of a loss of trust and generate criticisms of a “political offensive with an eye toward an FTA failure.”

[...]

During the conversation, which lasted thirty minutes in the morning and was made at South Korea’s request, Obama said that he would send a working group on FTA negotiations if possible and that he hoped an agreement would be reached before the G-20.

With this, observers predict that negotiations between the two countries’ trade ministers will pick up speed. Analysts say there is a strong chance the KORUS FTA amendments will be completed at a Nov. 11 South Korea-U.S. summit at the Cheong Wa Dae.

[..]

READ MORE

Korean Independent Video: Investigation on Samsung

Sorry, This is for Korean only. But in the below video, a young widow, Jung Ae-Jung of a diseased worker talks about his husband’s death with tears (March 7, 2010). In the below links (June 11, 2010), Samsung workers discuss about the Samsung workers' deaths that are from the industrial damage in the Samsung semi-conductor factories. So far, about 46 workers are known to have gotten the disease including the cancer and leukemia while 9 have died. For more on the issue, please see HERE and HERE.

Production: Color TV(March 27, 2010)
Another Family that Samsung abandoned
삼성이 버린 또 하나의 가족


* Other video series_Investigation on Samsung: Thinking of Samsung (June 11, 2010)
PartI(click), Part III(click)are here.
Part II will be later informed.