SKorea MPs urged to quickly pass free trade pact with US

0 Comments | AFP, April, 2008

SEOUL (AFP) — South Korean President Lee Myung-Bak Sunday urged legislators to quickly pass a sweeping free trade agreement with the United States, to set an example for Congress.

Lee, in remarks at a televised press conference, asked the current parliament to hold an extra session next month to pass the trade pact and other legislation.

His conservative party won a majority in the National Assembly in a general election last week but the new assembly does not start its four-year term until May 30.

"I request parliament to open a extra plenary session in May... there is a pile of work to tackle in order to revitalise the economy," Lee said.

"We have to handle the bill on the South Korea-US FTA so that the US Congress should hurry up ratification of...