On April 13, 2017, Kora International Trade Association (KITA) and SNU GSIS were pleased to host the forum to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) accession for Korea. The forum invited 8 trade experts to present and discuss on the topic, “The History of 50-year Korean Trade Liberalization and its Future Path.”
Session I began with the overview of the sub-topic, “the 50-year History of Korean Trade Liberalization” that was moderated by Professor Dukgeun Ahn of SNU GSIS. The debate regarding the given sub-topic was discussed by 3 panelists: Seung Wha Chang, a professor of Law at SNU; Jung Taik Hyun, the President of Korea Institute for International Economic Policy (KIEP); and JongKap Kim, the Chairman and CEO of Siemens Ltd. Seoul. The panel mainly talked about the major historical trade disputes that Korea has been involved in after joining the GATT.
Session II followed with the overview of the sub-topic, “The Future Goal and Role of Korean Trade Policy” that was moderated by Yoon Heo, the Dean and a professor of GSIS, Sogang University. The debate about the given sub-topic was continuously discussed by other panelists: Taeho Bark, a former trade minister and a professor of SNU GSIS; Byung-Rin Yoo, a visiting professor of College of Life and Science, Kyungpook National University; and Byung-il Choi, a professor of Ewha Womans University. The panel mainly talked about Korea’s future direction in terms of trade policy, and the strategy to enhance trade negotiating capacity.
