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Viewing cable 06SEOUL1868, COMPETITION POLICY: AMBASSADOR'S MEETING WITH

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Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
06SEOUL1868 2006-06-07 05:45 2011-08-25 00:00 UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Embassy Seoul
VZCZCXYZ0004
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHUL #1868/01 1580545
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 070545Z JUN 06
FM AMEMBASSY SEOUL
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8273
RUEAWJA/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
INFO RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 0748
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 0820
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC 1478
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC
UNCLAS SEOUL 001868 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
PASS USTR FOR CUTLER, AUGEROT AND KI 
JUSTICE FOR STU CHEMTOB AND RENATA HESSE 
STATE FOR EB/TPP/IPE, EB/OIA, EB/TPP/BTA AND EAP/K 
COMMERCE FOR 4431/MAC/OPB/EAP/DUTTON 
TREASURY FOR IA/ISA/BUCKLEY AND ITT/CHANG 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ETRD EINV PGOV KS
SUBJECT: COMPETITION POLICY: AMBASSADOR'S MEETING WITH 
KOREA FAIR TRADE COMMISSION CHAIRMAN KWON OH-SEONG 
 
SUMMARY 
------- 
 
1. (SBU) Newly-appointed Korea Fair Trade Commission (KFTC) 
Chairman Kwon Oh-seong told the Ambassador on May 25 that he 
is planning to redirect KFTC policy toward a stricter 
approach toward anti-competitive commercial practices, while 
taking a lighter touch toward limiting the overall economic 
power of Korea's family-run "chaebol" conglomerates.  The 
Ambassador cautioned Chairman Kwon that over-zealous 
regulatory pursuit of foreign firms could dampen the 
enthusiasm of foreign investors to put more capital into 
Korea.  End Summary. 
 
FTA COMPETITION POLICY CHAPTER AND "COMITY" 
------------------------------------------- 
 
2. (SBU) Chairman Kwon was appointed Chairman of the KFTC in 
March, capping an illustrious career as one of Korea's 
leading academic experts on competition policy issues.  He 
welcomed the Ambassador, noting that Korea has a lot to learn 
from the United States' 125-year history of anti-monopoly 
policies.  Kwon said he enjoyed hosting U.S. Fair Trade 
Commission Chairman Majoras in early April, and learned a lot 
from her lecture.  Kwon said that he expects that the 
competition policy chapter of the U.S.-Korea Free Trade 
Agreement will be negotiated without much difficulty. 
 
3. (SBU) The Ambassador noted that fair anti-trust 
adjudication is an important element of an attractive 
investment environment.  Observing that Microsoft is 
appealing the KFTC's decision against it to the Korean 
courts, the Ambassador encouraged Kwon to consider the 
benefits of respect for "comity" and the usefulness in 
situations like that of Microsoft to respect international 
precedent, especially when that precedent is set in a 
multinational corporation's home market and the plaintiff 
itself is a foreign company.  Access to the latest 
information technology innovations is an important "public 
good," the Ambassador explained, and said he hoped that 
Korean consumers will not be disadvantaged by the KFTC 
decision.  He also expressed concern about a potential 
chilling effect on investment in Korea's high-technology 
sector, particularly software development. 
 
4. (SBU) Chairman Kwon responded that both sides claim to be 
defending the best interests of consumers.  He explained that 
Korean anti-trust law differs from that of the United States 
in that it mandates the KFTC to explicitly prevent the "abuse 
of a market dominant position."  This is why Korea used the 
European Union approach in the Microsoft case.  Kwon admitted 
that it was a difficult decision, but added "we did our 
best."  Concerning KFTC's ongoing investigation of Intel 
Corporation, Kwon confirmed that the KFTC was acting based on 
a tip-off by AMD.  The investigation is still in its early 
stages, but thus far Kwon said there appears to be some 
evidence of wrongdoing and damage to Korean companies. 
 
NEW FOCUS ON ANTI-COMPETITIVE PRACTICES 
--------------------------------------- 
 
5. (SBU) Kwon volunteered to explain his own approach to 
competition policy issues, and how that would differ from his 
predecessor Kang Chul-kyu.  Whereas former Chairman Kang took 
a broad view of his responsibility to rein in the economic 
power of the "chaebol," based on "market distortions" 
resulting from an excessive concentration of capital, 
Chairman Kwon said that he would focus more narrowly on 
actual anti-competitive practices.  Kwon said he hoped to 
de-politicize the Korean government's approach toward the 
chaebol.  For example, even as he tries to prevent chaebol 
affiliates from unfairly leveraging the market power of their 
parent companies, he would not seek to break up the chaebol 
nor try to explicitly fight family ownership. 
 
6. (SBU) The Ambassador praised the Roh Administration's 
anti-corruption efforts, which are particularly welcomed by 
foreign investors.  Kwon then inquired about the U.S. 
Government view of the Lone Star investigations.  The 
Ambassador responded that Korean investigatory authorities 
seem to be "piling on" to Lone Star to win political points. 
 
This has created uncertainty among potential foreign 
investors as to whether Korea still wants foreign investment. 
 Kwon defended the investigations, stating that many in Korea 
believe that after the financial crisis "some foreign 
companies are taking more from Korea than they contributed." 
EconMinCouns explained Lone Star's perspective: the company 
saved a dying bank and added to its value, and simply wants 
recognition of the value of its investment. 
 
COMMENT 
------- 
 
7. (SBU) Kwon's statements about his chaebol policy are 
consistent with statements coming from Financial Supervisory 
Commission Chairman Yoon Jeung-hyun calling for easing of Roh 
Administration efforts to limit intra-chaebol 
cross-investments.  It would appear that three years of 
complaints from Korean big business have started to wear down 
Roh Administration resolve to seek greater "justice" in the 
socio-economic realm.  End Comment. 
VERSHBOW