1. BILATERAL/MULTILATERAL ISSUES

Mass Protest Opposing KORUS FTA held by Farmers [Korean: BYK]

http://mbn.mk.co.kr/pages/news/newsView.php?category=mbn00009&news_seq_no=1112647

Summary: A mass protest opposing the ratification of the KORUS FTA was held.  Around 8,000 members of the Agriculture, Fisheries and Livestock Coalition and Korean Farmers' Union held a protest in Yeouido Park and criticized the government for forcing for the ratification of KORUS FTA.  In addition, the group asserted that the ratification of KORUS FTA by the National Assembly without compensation measures for the agriculture, fisheries and livestock industry should be immediately stopped.

Some 10,000 Angry Farmers Burned an Effigy of KORUS FTA [Korean: BYK]

http://www.newscham.net/news/view.php?board=news&nid=63436

Summary: A group composed of 36 farmer groups held a protest in Yeouido at 2pm on October 6.  The farmers demanded, “Blocking of KORUS FTA ratification, suspension of President Lee’s visit to the United States and opening of hearing on KORUS FTA.”  The farmer groups asserted that “Farmers should aggressively stop the KORUS FTA, as the Trade Minister Kim is saying that renegotiation of the rice agreement in 2014 is natural, Assemblyman Kyung Pil Nam is saying that they should be prepared to confront against the farmers and the government is trying to give up on agriculture after promoting industriali8zation for the past 50 years.”  Some of the farmers shaved their hair asking to stop the KORUS FTA which is pro-American and a diplomacy that is paying tributes.  Assemblywoman Jung Hee Lee, Democratic Labor Party stated that the most important obligation of the DLP during their term was to prevent the ratification of the KORUS FTA.  She asked the farmers to visit their representative Assemblyman’s office and conduct a sit-in protest.  The farmers burnt up a casket of the KORUS FTA bill.  The farmers plan to hold more protests on October 10 in their respective region.  The coalition against KORUS FTA also plans to hold a protest in front of the National Assembly on October 12^th.  

Oppose KORUS FTA to the End…Farmers Gather at Yeouido Park [Korean: BYK]

http://www.nocutnews.co.kr/Show.asp?IDX=1938470

Summary: Around 10,000 farmers continued to protest, yelling “Guarantee Farmers Income!”  The farmers asked the National Assembly to immediately stop the movement to ratify the KORUS FTA.  They demanded that the problems that the farmers are currently facing be addressed first.  They also asserted that President Lee’s visit to the United States was to provide gifts to the United States and opposed the visit.  One protester asserted that the fight against the United States which has invested in agriculture over 100 years and Korea which has neglected the agriculture is like a fight between professional players against a kindergartener.

2. ECONOMIC ISSUES

Per-Capita Korean GDP to Exceeds $30,000 in 2015, IMF [Korean, OSY]

http://news.donga.com/Economy/Money/3/0102/20111004/40832307/1

Summary: According to a IMF report released on October 4, per-capita GDP of Koreans was forecasted to exceed $30,000 in 2015. 

Table: Korean Per-Capita GDP Forecast (IMF)