KEY POINTS:
Park Jin visibly enthuses about the new "Global Korea" policy to "open up and reach out" to the world.
Chairman of the South Korean National Assembly foreign affairs committee, he is an imposing politician with a strong physical presence that masks his relative youth, and he is committed
to making Korea's voice heard in international affairs.
A former Prime Minister's fellow, he visited New Zealand about four years ago and is keen to make the proposed bilateral FTA happen.
"We have a lot to gain from each other," he says.
In December, fisticuffs broke out when his opponents used sledge hammers to try and break down the door to the room where his committee had locked itself away to make progress on Korus - the Korean-United State free trade agreement that still waits ratification by both sides.
South Korea is deliberately pursuing free trade deals with as many large countries as possible to shore itself up against plummeting exports returns.
In the United States, the car lobby is lobbying the Obama Administration for a renegotiation of clauses affecting their industry. In Korea, farmers protest about the effect of beef imports on their industry.
"Korea is an export-oriented economy - 70 per cent of our economy is made up from exports," says Park. "So we hope that these economic difficulties in the US do not lead the country towards a protectionist economy so that we can ratify the bilateral free trade agreement which we have already signed."
South Korea's FTA policy is "going gang busters" as it races to catch up with its competitors.
Late last year it seemed as if Korea might not open talks with New Zealand until it had (unilaterally if need be) ratified Korus.
But Foreign Affairs Minister Yu Myung-hwan who visited Wellington recently, emphasised that irrespective of US reluctance to ratify Korus, Korea would press ahead with a swag of negotiations: India and the EU which are close to finalisation, Australia and New Zealand and a raft of Latin America countries.
"We will encircle America", he jested. "If it become protectionist we will lose faith."
South Korea is New Zealand's sixth largest export market, with total bilateral trade worth around $2.5 billion a year. A two-year study by the NZ Institute of Economic Research and the Korean Institute for International Economic Policy had found the proposed FTA would benefit both countries.
Both countries are highly complementary: Korea imports dairy products, organic products and raw materials like timber from New Zealand.
New Zealand imports car (the first electric car in NZ is a Korean one), industrial products and top consumer brands such as Samsung and LG, which have established good reputations here.
From a Korean stand-point the gains from a reduction of New Zealand tariffs are not huge.
"Politically we need to balance the expected benefits," said Ambassador Choi Kyung-Lim, who directs Korea's free trade bureau.
"And that leaves you a victim of your own efforts."
Choi is referring to the "unilateral disarmament" policy adopted by New Zealand years ago to slash tariffs and open the economy to competition.
New Zealand will in fact gain much more in dollar terms from the tariff reductions Korea will undertake on prime agricultural products such as dairy. But Choi indicates South Korea does not pursue FTAs on a linear basis.
It wants to use the negotiating process to drive a closer relationship to clear the way for more Korean investment in NZ resources such as forestry, and energy.
There is another twist which is not reflected in the official papers.
A background paper prepared at the Korean Institute for International Economic Policy is frank that New Zealand - "due to its geographical constraint of being isolated from the main global trade locations and small population, is not an attractive export market for Korea".
"Unlike Korea, New Zealand considers Korea to be one of its most important trading partners ... Korea's ability to obtain further economic benefits from expanding trade relations is limited."
It is New Zealand's "non-economically outstanding factors which go beyond the economic realm" that make this country of strategic interest to Korea.
Among the attractions is the intensely competitive nature of New Zealand's agriculture industry and its high degree of technological development. Korea sees this as helping its upgrade its own agricultural strength.
But the interesting twist is purely political.
As the briefing note points out: "Even though New Zealand is a small economy it has a strong international presence" and remains a "middle power".
It may have clashed with other major powers but in the long run New Zealand's "moral diplomacy" obtained international understanding and support which increased its foreign policies influence and reputation.
In South Korea's case it is unable to follow the middle power alliance and should maintain a close relationship with New Zealand to help obtain international support for its own foreign policy.
The upshot is the authors say - and this view is reflected in discussions at Korean's Foreign Ministry - New Zealand has an importance beyond its outward factors.
"High income per capita, competitiveness in the field of agriculture and biotechnology, and its influence on other countries in the South Pacific region are some reasons why Korea must be interested in expanding its relationship with New Zealand."
Says Park: ""New Zealand is a very active member of Apec and other institutions.
"My committee values the New Zealand FTA as an important contribution to our economy and diplomatic relations."
A VITAL TRADE PARTNER
* South Korea is New Zealand's sixth largest export market, with total bilateral trade worth around $2.5 billion a year.
* Korea imports dairy products, organic products and raw materials like timber from New Zealand.
* New Zealand imports cars, industrial products and consumer electronics -brands like Samsung and LG.
Fran O'Sullivan visited Seoul as a guest of the Korea Foundation.
