Table Of ContentPOLITICS OF EAST ASIAN FREE TRADE
AGREEMENTS
This textbook explains the politics of free trade agreements in Japan and South
Korea.
Examining free trade agreements in Japan and South Korea since the late 1990s,
Choi and Oh analyze the role of institutions, political leaders, sectoral interests, and
civil society in placing the two countries on alternate paths of free trade agree-
ments at different points in time. Systematically approaching the politics of free
trade agreements from each perspective, they expose the domestic political under-
pinnings of free trade agreements in a global trade order that is increasingly fraught
with conflict.
A valuable textbook for students of international political economy and interna-
tional trade in East Asia, particularly those focusing on Japan and South Korea. It’s
also a useful resource for scholars and policymakers looking to better understand
trade politics in East Asia.
Choi Byung-il is professor and the former Dean of the Graduate School of
International Studies (GSIS), Ewha Womans University (Seoul, Korea). He is also
the President of Korea Foundation for Advanced Studies. Most recently, he was the
President of the Korea Economic Research Institute, a think tank representing the
Korean business sector. He served leadership positions at several academic associations,
including the President of the Korean International Economic Association, President
of the Korean Association of Trade and Industry Studies, and President of the Korea
Association of Negotiation Studies. He was a member to various advisory councils
for the Korean government, including the National Economic Advisory Council for
the President of Korea, Trade Negotiations Advisory Council, Inter-Korea Relations
Council, and Advisory Council for the Ministry of Foreign Affair and Trade. Prior to
joining the Ewha GSIS in as a founding faculty, he was the Korean chief negotiator
for the WTO basic telecom negotiations (1994–1997). His service in the interna-
tional area awarded him two medals of excellence from the Korean government.
Jennifer S. Oh is an associate professor at the Graduate School of International
Studies, Ewha Womans University (Seoul, Korea). She is a political scientist who
specializes in comparative political economy and East Asian politics. Her main
research areas are the political economy of Japan and Korea, trade politics, agri-
cultural politics, and East Asian democracy. Recent publications cover topics such
as FTA politics in Japan and Korea, agricultural reform and farm group politics in
Japan and Korea, and Korean social mobilization.
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Politics of East Asian Free Trade Agreements
Unveiling the Asymmetry between Korea and Japan
Byung-il Choi and Jennifer S. Oh
For the full list of titles in the series, visit: https://www.routledge.com/Politics-in-
Asia/book-series/PIA
POLITICS OF EAST
ASIAN FREE TRADE
AGREEMENTS
Unveiling the Asymmetry between
Korea and Japan
Choi Byung-il and Jennifer S. Oh
First published 2021
by Routledge
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and by Routledge
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© 2021 Choi Byung-il and Jennifer S. Oh
The right of Choi Byung-il and Jennifer S. Oh to be identified as authors of this
work has been asserted by them in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the
Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or
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British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Ch’oe, Pyŏng-il, 1958- author. | Oh, Jennifer S., author.
Title: Politics of East Asian free trade agreements : unveiling the
asymmetry between Korea and Japan / Byung-il Choi, Jennifer S. Oh.
Description: New York : Routledge, 2021. | Series: Politics in asia |
Includes bibliographical references and index. | Summary: "A textbook
which explains the evolution of international political economy in East
Asia. Examining the development of Free Trade policy in Japan and South
Korea since the late 1990s, Choi and Oh analyse the role of political,
institutional, sectoral, and civil society factors in placing the two
countries on different paths at different points in time. Systematically
approaching this issue from each perspective in turn, they expose the
domestic political underpinnings of the free trade system. A valuable
textbook for students of international political economy and
international trade in East Asia, particularly those focussing on Japan
and South Korea. It's also a useful resource for scholars and
policymakers looking to better understand the dynamics of free trade
policy in East Asia”-- Provided by publisher.
Identifiers: LCCN 2020040760 (print) | LCCN 2020040761 (ebook) | ISBN
9780367278922 (paperback) | ISBN 9780367278854 (hardback) | ISBN
9780429298585 (ebook)
Subjects: LCSH: Korea (South)--Economic conditions--21st century. |
Japan--Economic conditions--21st century. | Korea (South)--Economic
policy. | Japan--Economic policy. | Free trade--Korea (South) | Free
trade--Japan. | Korea (South)--Commerce--Japan. | Japan--Commerce--Korea
(South) | East Asia--Commerce.
Classification: LCC HC467.965 .C4714 2021 (print) | LCC HC467.965 (ebook)
| DDC 382/.71095195--dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2020040760
LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2020040761
ISBN: 978-0-367-27885-4 (hbk)
ISBN: 978-0-367-27892-2 (pbk)
ISBN: 978-0-429-29858-5 (ebk)
Typeset in Bembo
by SPi Global, India
To Jiyoung, Stephen, Christine, Yon Sog, Frances, and Jerome.
CONTENTS
List of Figures and Tables viii
Preface ix
List of Abbreviations xi
1 Introduction 1
2 Asymmetric evolution of Korea and Japan’s FTAs,
late 1990s–2020 15
3 Trade policymaking institutions 34
4 Political leadership and trade policymaking 58
5 Civil society, interest groups, and FTA politics 81
6 Geopolitics and changing Japan and Korea’s trade relations 100
7 Conclusion 117
Index 122
FIGURES AND TABLES
FIGURE
1.1 Framework 9
TABLES
2.1 Korea’s FTAs and Share of Food Imports 20
2.2 Japan’s FTAs and Share of Food Imports 21
2.3 Overview of Argument 29
3.1 Domestic Trade Governance and Japan and Korea’s FTAs, 1990s–2020 35
PREFACE
“How could Korea negotiate an FTA (free trade agreement) with the U.S.? Aren’t
you afraid of angry opposition from farmers?” The Japanese Vice Minister of
Agriculture was puzzled. On April 2007, one of the authors of this book met with a
team of high-level delegation from Japan. The purpose of their visit was to seek an
answer or clue to understand the audacity of the Korean government in its pursuit
of an FTA with the U.S., one of the biggest exporters of farm products. In early
April 2007, Korea and the U.S. had successfully concluded their FTA negotiations.
To the eyes of the Japanese delegation, the Korean government’s move was risky
and tantamount to political suicide. One question haunted the Japanese delegation.
What enabled the Korean government to embark on such a bold adventure, while
Japan could not?
“Do you think Korea will join the TPP (Trans-Pacific Parntership)?” Across
the dining table, the Japanese Minister of Agriculture was beaming. It was June
2016 and the same author had a breakfast meeting with the Japanese Minister of
Agriculture in Tokyo. Japan in 2016 was very different from the Japan the author
had encountered in 2007. In early 2016, Japan had entered into the TPP with 11
countries including the U.S. Korea was not one of the 11 countries. In the time span
of about a decade, Japan had become bolder and more adventurous in its pursuit of
FTAs. Japan must have found its answer to the questions posed in 2007.
Korea and Japan thrive on trade. Through trade, the two countries have emerged
as global manufacturing powerhouses. To keep their manufacturing sectors com-
petitive, securing and enhancing market access is critical. The global race for FTAs,
which gained momentum in the late 1990s and became intensified at the dawn of
the new millennium, pushed the two countries to an uncharted territory in trade
policymaking. They were forced to seriously consider opening their heavily pro-
tected agriculture sectors. Otherwise, FTAs with major countries or a meaningful
FTA with any country would be virtually impossible. Somehow, Korea stood up to
