Local civic groups urged the government Monday to scrap a free trade deal with China, saying it will destroy the nation's agriculture sector and small and mid-sized businesses.
South Korean President Park Geun-hye and her Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping announced the "effective" conclusion of a bilateral free trade agreement (FTA) during their meeting at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing earlier in the day.
"The free trade deal is expected to completely ruin the local agricultural industry already overwhelmed by the flood of Chinese farm produce," a coalition of groups opposed to the deal said at a press conference in Seoul.
"The deal will also deal a harsh blow to small and medium enterprises by leading to a surge in imports of cheap Chinese products. Seoul should review the FTA."
Park Seok-un, who represents the coalition, condemned South Korea for failing to listen to its people
"The government has thrown away our economic sovereignty by pushing for the deal without winning public consent and providing countermeasures," he said.
Kim Yeong-ho, head of the Korean Peasants League, said the deal will further threaten the livelihoods of South Korean farmers.
"The crisis in our agricultural industry has persisted even before the FTA was reached," he said. "Our farmers will take a heavy blow if the FTA is signed."
The coalition plans to hold a mass rally in front of Seoul City Hall on Nov. 20 to protest the conclusion of the South Korea-China free trade deal. (Yonhap)
