Education sector to be included in FTA agenda
Korea Times, 16 April 2006
Education Sector to Be Included in FTA Agenda
By Kim Yon-se
Staff Reporter
South Korea is poised to include a partial opening of the education market in its coming talks for a free trade agreement (FTA) with the United States.
According to policymakers, the U.S. is calling for the Korean government to open the college education market involving graduate schools and the pre-school education market involving kindergartens.
But they stress the market for compulsory public education — elementary, middle and high schools — will not be the target of the U.S. during the Korea-U.S. FTA negotiations.
In a statement, Kim Jong-hoon, Korea’s chief negotiator for the trade talks with the U.S., said, We will see the education sector open up after an FTA with the U.S. But I don't believe the compulsory education sector will be included in the negotiation items.''
In FTA talks with several countries, the U.S. has demanded none of them open the public education market, Kim said.Non-compulsory education sector will be discussed during talks.’’
U.S. institutions, including Gymboree, have already been providing Korean babies and children under school age with educational and musical programs. More and more U.S. language institutions, such as Princeton Review and Kaplan, are tapping the domestic market.
Many colleges and universities in provincial cities are suffering difficulties due to the falling number of freshmen every year. Under a Korea-U.S. FTA, a series of bankruptcies are expected among uncompetitive schools.
Aside from the public education sector, industries concerned with national security -- electricity, railway and gas -- will be excluded from the list of talks,'' Kim also said.
FTA rules stipulate that negotiators are allowed to protect some industries, he said.The rules will also be applicable to talks with the U.S.’’
