The FTA is doomed.
The man, the myth, the Marmot’s Hole favorite, Kang Ki-kab is on the case (Yonhap):
“The first, second and the third goals should all be enhancing the public livelihood by solving economic polarization and protecting the lives of the underprivileged,” Kang said. “It is critical to block the FTA for that very purpose, and I plan to take my best shot at it.”
He specifically has a beef (sorry about the pun) with the recent agreement to lift the import ban on US beef.
Kang is not a man to be messed with. He is the current holder of the General Assembly record for hunger striking; a mind-bending 29 days (see the Yonhap link above). This is the same guy who travels Seattle, Hong Kong and Cancun to do his bit of ‘direct action.’
It’s over folks.
16 Comments
He’s a famous anti-American ‘politician’.
He’s in every protests that has anything to do with going against anything American. Just look at all the protest pictures and he’s there with the other two (which I won’t bother mentioning the names), who are also members of the left wing labor party.
About that guy, he’s always been like that, against the FTA from day one. Only right now, he’s gained support because of the beef controversy thing. But he’s still irrelevant, a lot of hot air but no substance. I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s on North Korea’s dole list.
The FTA is dead anyway. Even if Korea passes it, the US will not. The left parties are using the beef issue for their own political use. Even if Korea allows full access to the US beef and Korea passes the FTA bill, it was doubtful that the US would have agreed to an FTA.
Excellent news. This means no Visa Waiver Program either then. We don’t need more Koreans milking America anymore.
I don’t see how the Democratic Labor party can do anything significant in Korean politics. Unless of course, they resort to extreme violence, but that’ll make them terrorists.
Is this the 400 IQ guy who has transcended the spiritual plane or some junk? Because if so, we are all well and truly fucked.
As usual the Koreans want everything and bring nothing to the table in return.
Opening up the beef market was a major obstacle to getting the FTA passed in Washington. Montana Senator Max Baucus has said he would block any Korea-US FTA without the beef market opening.
I’ve made clear to Korea’s leadership – from the President on down - that I will hold up the U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement until their market is open to Montana beef.
But will he try to twist the arms of other senators to support it now that he has gotten his way?
http://baucus.senate.gov/issue.....ortunities
No, I believe that guy is in jail ATM.
And cydevil is right. With conservative majority in the National Assembly there’s no way this Kang Ki-kab dude will have his way.
He’s irrelevant.
However, it looks like the FTA will be a serious challenge in the US. There are real concerns of the country becoming more and more protectionist with the downturn. A large percentage of constituents in both countries simply don’t get the theory of comparative advantage and with fairly high market betas most people tend towards protectionism. It will really be a shame to see either side pull out due to fear as opposed to rationality.
ZZOOzzoo, I don’t think that guy is in jail yet. He was sentenced to prison, but maybe he’s not in prison yet or something. Last time I heard about him is him getting evicted from his office for not paying rent. Funny guy, to say the least.
judge judy, I agree that it will be a shame for this FTA deal to go to waste. I doubt the Korean side would refuse the deal, however. It’s pretty certain that LMB is pro-ROKUS FTA, and he’s got the majority in the parliment to make it happen. The same cannot be said about Bush and the Republicans.
mcnut: And as usual they will get what they want. So can we blame them?
If the FTA doesn’t pass in Korea, it won’t be because of this guy who is irrelevant. It will be because of the main opposition party (who favored FTA when Roh Mu Hyun was in power) who are threatening to oppose the beef opening. This whole farce is due to rumors and fear mongering spread by MBC that’s got lot of Koreans scared to death. They keep showing interviews of this same one Korean scientific expert who says there are not enough studies done to show US beef is safe.
You guys:
1/ I love Korea ! My wife is Korean ! My children are half Korean !
2/ No more USFK in Korea ! Protect your own country, Korea.
3/ No KOR-US FTA.
4/ No Visa waiver program from South Korea to US.
Thanks for the love.
The Liberals still have a grip on Korean institutions. I’m certain LMB is getting rid of them especially with all the recent resignations by heads of state run institutions but they really need to do this all faster.
Happy to be there for our
friends,pals,chums… you lot.“Is this the 400 IQ guy who has transcended the spiritual plane or some junk?”
No, Kang’s the guy who looks like he could be a member of the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry teaching faculty. As cm noted, there is seldom an anti-American protest without his presence.
@wjk, as with anything, one takes the good and leaves the bad.