Senior Korean government official announces candidacy as successor to WTO Executive Director June 24, 13:14
A senior official of the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Industry of South Korea has announced his candidacy over the election of the WTO = Secretary General of the World Trade Organization, who will retire at the end of August. To date, four people from Mexico and other countries have registered candidates for the succession of the secretary general.
Secretary General Azebedo, who heads the WTO, has indicated that he will retire at the end of August after leaving the term of office for more than one year.
In response to this, South Korea's Ministry of Industry, Trade and Industry's Director of Trade Negotiations, Yu Myung-hee, held a conference on the morning of the 24th, saying, "We need to play a role in developing the WTO's trade order and international cooperation system." He stated that he would run for the WTO Executive Secretary.
This is the third time a senior Korean government official has run for the WTO secretary general.
South Korea filed a lawsuit this month with the WTO regarding the Japanese government tightening export controls on three items, including semiconductor raw materials for South Korea.
Until now, Director Yu has criticized the measures of the Japanese government at international conferences and urged him to withdraw.
Regarding this, Mr. Yu said in a press conference, "The Secretary-General is not a post representing a specific nation," and stated that he would not intervene in an individual dispute if he took office.
Four candidates from Mexico, Nigeria, etc. have so far filed their candidacy over the selection of a WTO Executive Secretary.
The notification will be closed on the 8th of next month, after which the candidates will express their views on the member states at a meeting held and the selection will proceed.