Japanese Media: "If Yoo Myung-hee Becomes WTO Director-General, It Will Be Disadvantageous to Japan"

▲Yoo Myung-hee, Director-General for Trade, Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Jae-hee] As Yoo Myung-hee, head of the Trade Negotiations Division at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, competes for the position of the next Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO) against candidates from eight countries including South Korea, the Japanese government and media have begun to exert pressure.

This is because, following Japan's imposition of export restrictions on South Korea last July, which led to a confrontation between the two countries at the WTO, there are concerns that if Yoo assumes the WTO leadership, it could be disadvantageous to Japan.

On the 10th, the Nihon Keizai Shimbun reported that although candidates from eight countries including South Korea have entered the race for the next WTO Director-General, "there is no strong frontrunner, so a fierce contest is expected," and "if candidate Yoo is elected, it could become a headache for Japan."

The Nihon Keizai Shimbun mentioned that Yoo strongly opposed Japan's export restrictions on South Korea and led the WTO complaint, stating, "If Yoo becomes Director-General and the Korea-Japan dispute intensifies at the WTO, there are concerns that 'rulings unfavorable to Japan' may be issued."

The Mainichi Shimbun analyzed that in this election, the Japanese government is likely to support Nigeria's Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, who has high international recognition, by joining forces with European countries such as Germany and France.

It also reported that "there is strong reluctance to support candidate Yoo from South Korea, who is in conflict with Japan over export restrictions."

The Japanese government maintains the position that "the issues between Korea and Japan will not affect the WTO Director-General election process" and that "support will be chosen based on the character of each candidate."

Regarding this, the Mainichi Shimbun pointed out that "although Japanese Foreign Ministry officials say this outwardly, there is growing Japanese wariness about South Korea's increasing influence at the WTO."

The right-leaning Sankei Shimbun, citing diplomatic sources, disparaged candidate Yoo by saying, "Yoo, who has no ministerial experience, is not a prominent figure among the eight candidates and is viewed skeptically in terms of ability to coordinate the interests of major countries."

It also reported that "a Japanese government official said, 'It is disrespectful to other candidates for the Japanese media to focus mainly on the Korean candidate.'"

Meanwhile, Japan gave up early on fielding its own candidate in this WTO Director-General election.

In this regard, the Mainichi Shimbun reported behind-the-scenes that this was because no suitable candidate among major ministers who could properly speak English was found.