Main Features and Implications of KORUS FTA Negotiation Strategy : The Case of Foreign Ownership Regulation on Facilities-based Public Telecom Services

한미 FTA 협상전략의 특징 및 시사점 : 기간통신서비스 외자규제 사례를 중심으로

Like in other trade negotiations covering comprehensive sectors, it is reported that KOREA-US FTA tried so-called 'package deal' at the last minutes, when telecom services sector was positioned at the forefront and expected to partly play a role in buffering US' market-opening pressure on other sectors. Before everything else, Korean negotiators had to enhance the value of foreign ownership deregulation in telecom services sector as a leverage in the course of KOREA-US FTA negotiations. In addition, since foreign ownership change, if any, is highly sensitive issue either politically or policy-wise, it seems very difficult to find a breakthrough. Focusing on foreign ownership regulation in telecom services sector, this paper seeks how Korea has developed its strategic reasoning for negotiations and evaluates the outcomes of KOREA-US FTA negotiations.