Prime Minister Chung Conducts 'Phone Diplomacy' with Switzerland... Tells Vice President "Support Yoo Myung-hee in WTO Director-General Election"

Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun is seen requesting Guy Parmelin, Vice President of Switzerland, to support Yoo Myung-hee, the Chief Trade Negotiator of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, who advanced to the final round of the World Trade Organization (WTO) Director-General election on the 26th. (Photo by Office for Government Policy Coordination)

[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun on the 26th had a phone call with Swiss Vice President Guy Parmelin and requested support for Yoo Myung-hee, the head of the Trade Negotiations Division at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, in the final round of the World Trade Organization (WTO) Director-General election.

Prime Minister Chung emphasized, "To reform the WTO, which is facing unprecedented challenges such as the spread of protectionism and the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), and to restore the multilateral trading system as soon as possible, Director Yoo is the best candidate for Director-General."

Vice President Parmelin said, "Korea and Switzerland share the common goal of an open economy and a rules-based free trade system," and evaluated that "Director Yoo has sufficient leadership and capabilities necessary for WTO reform."

Earlier, Prime Minister Chung had phone calls with Colombian President Iv?n Duque M?rquez, Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, Guatemalan Vice President C?sar Guillermo Castillo Reyes, and Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovi?, requesting their support for Director Yoo.

An official from the Prime Minister's Office said, "The Prime Minister's Office will continue to provide all possible support until the very end for Director Yoo's election as WTO Director-General."