Sung Il-jong: "We Must Request Japan to Support WTO's Yoo Myung-hee... Need to Resolve Long-standing Korea-Japan Relations"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] Seong Il-jong, Emergency Response Committee member of the People Power Party, emphasized the need for cooperation between the two countries, stating that "Japan should be asked to support Yoo Myung-hee, Director-General for Trade, as the next Secretary-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO)."

At the Emergency Response Committee meeting held at the National Assembly on the morning of the 29th, Seong said, "Can we produce a WTO chief without the support of neighboring countries?"

He added, "Japan opposes Yoo becoming the WTO Secretary-General because they fear disadvantages in dispute procedures. The government should ask for help from Japan and build trust as partners opening the future together."

Seong said, "The WTO Secretary-General is not a position for the benefit of their home country. It is a position to correct the global trade order and contribute to the interests of all humanity," adding, "We should use this opportunity to resolve the long-standing issues between Korea and Japan."

He also said to Japan, "You can go far only if you walk with your neighbors. Cooperation is absolutely necessary," and added, "Both countries need the wisdom to cooperate, coexist, and help each other. We ask for support for Director-General Yoo."

Although Director-General Yoo trailed behind Nigeria's Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala in the member countries' preference survey on the 28th, interest is growing in a possible last-minute reversal as the United States officially announced its support for Director-General Yoo as the next Secretary-General on the same day.