Majority of S. Koreans support U.S. trade pact: survey

SEOUL, April 1 (Yonhap) -- More than half of South Koreans say lawmakers should ratify a landmark free trade agreement with the United States to help boost the nation's exports that have been battered by the global economic crisis, a survey showed Wednesday.

South Korea and the U.S. signed the trade deal in 2007 after more than a year of
often acrimonious negotiations, but the agreement has yet to be ratified by their
legislatures.
In a statement, the Federation of Korean Industries, the nation's largest
corporate lobby, said 55 percent of the 800 adults surveyed wanted the National
Assembly to approve the deal with the world's largest economy, compared with 30.3
percent against it.
Of those who support ratification, 46.2 percent said it would help South Korea
increase exports amid the global recession.
Another 23.8 percent said it would damage South Korea's reputation if the deal is
rejected by the National Assembly.
U.S. President Barack Obama and other top U.S. trade officials have said the deal
is unacceptable as it stands, citing what they call unfair terms in auto trade.
South Korean trade officials say they remain opposed to renegotiating the deal.
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