Choi Bong-hyuk, columnist (AI, ESG, DX convergence expert, workplace disability awareness education expert) = Park Dong-woo, former U.S. White House Disability Policy Deputy Assistant Secretary "The moving story of the 12th anniversary of the Korea-US FTA's entry into force"⑥

[Article]
An event commemorating the historic 12th anniversary of the Korea-U.S. FTA was held on March 7, 2024 in Fullerton City, hosted by the Los Angeles Consulate General.

Fifteen years ago, memories of my utmost efforts to have the KORUS FTA early ratification by the U.S. Congress since 2009, came flooding back like a kaleidoscope.

At the time, I was in the midst of a five-month background check by the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS), and the U.S. White House legal team, as a nominee for the U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary for Disability Policy in the Obama Administration. Therefore, I was very cautious in my activities.

At that time, I was working as a branch manager and loan manager at Farmers and Merchants Bank, and as a member of the Economic and Trade Committee and Public Relations Spokesperson for the OC San Diego Overseas Regional Council, the first independent launch of the Democratic National Congress' LA region council (Chairman Ahn Young-dae).

Early ratification of the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement, which is an important matter for Korea's economic development, is also important for the Korean community's economy here in the United States. Therefore, at the National Congress Executive Meeting, I presented my grassroots movement and public diplomacy achievements during the 1998 Korean IMF crisis and obtained the consent of Chairman Ahn Young-dae and the executive members, launching a grassroots movement to move the U.S. Congress.

Based on the principle that all politics are local, I started a grassroots movement. The first hurdle was to pass a resolution calling for the early ratification of the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement in the Garden Grove Chamber of Commerce, where I served as a director. I made every effort to pass the most important first hurdle.

Not only was I a branch manager and loan manager at F&M Bank, but I was also a Garden Grove City Council candidate who had failed three times, a former president of the Garden Grove Rotary Club, and a former president of the Garden Grove City Sister City Association. I was able to secure the unanimous adoption of the resolution by the Garden Grove Chamber of Commerce as they agreed with my explanation that the Korea-US FTA was a win-win situation for everyone.

Chairman Carney Magorin's cooperation was significant at the time, and the early ratification support resolution passed by the Chamber of Commerce was also unanimously adopted by the City of Garden Grove, making Garden Grove the first city in Orange County to adopt an early ratification support resolution among the 34 cities in Orange County.

At the time, the Garden Grove City Council meeting was attended by Consul General Kim Jae-soo of Los Angeles, Chairman Ahn Young-dae of the National Congress, and numerous heads of organizations and Korean residents, who witnessed the unanimous passage.

In addition, with the agreement of the OC San Diego National Congress members, I sent emails to the federal representatives and senators of each member's respective district. Following Garden Grove City, we received support resolutions from Buena Park City, and then Fullerton City. At the time, Sharon Quirk-Silva, a council member, participated in the unanimous vote alongside Mayor Don Bankhead of Fullerton City.
Source: [Article] Park Dong-woo, former U.S. White House Disability Policy Deputy Assistant Secretary, "The moving story of the 12th anniversary of the Korea-US FTA's entry into force"⑥: Disability Awareness News - https://dpi1004.com/3861