S. Korea's President Lee Myung Bak
to Meeting with Governor Chris Gregoire

On September 20^th, 2011, Republic Of Korea Consul General, Song Yong An announced that ROK President Lee Myong Bak will meeting Washington State Governor Chris Gregoire and Microsoft Chairman, Bill Gates during President Bak’s visit to Seattle.  

Consul General Song Yong An was proud to say that President Lee Myong Bak is well familiar about the Washington State communities that they are putting the greatest effort to pass the FTA and enthusiastic which President also is familiar that Washington State is very important to connecting the global economic.  In addition the most beautiful and paradise with fresh air environment which reminds to all of us that October 2007, President Lee Myung Bak was chosen as a 'Hero of the Environment' in Time magazine along with former U.S. vice president, Al Gore.

Consul General Song Yong An also stated that there will be about 7000 job will be created in Washington State while at least over 70,000 jobs will be created in United States although it is expected 350,000 jobs will be creating jobs including South Korea which will be able to support the economic recover during the critical situation.

The announcement was giving after the meeting with Korean American Chamber of Commerce, president Susan Lee and KACCWA board members delivered the 3,255 request letters to Congress which is requesting to ratify and pass the Korea US Free Trade Agreement (KORUS FTA).KACCWA President, Susan Lee and Board Chair Hong Yun Sun delivered the more than 3,000 requesting to Congress letters two weeks ago which combined total about 6,287 letters although more than 7,000 petition signature have received from the KA communities in Washington State alone last in June and delivered to President Obama.  ROK Consulate General will be sent out these letters to the congress accordingly.

The United States and the Republic of Korea’s Negotiations were announced on February 2, 2006, and concluded on April 1, 2007. The treaty was first signed on June 30, 2007, with a renegotiated version signed in early December 2010.  However, the agreement has not yet been ratified by the National Assembly of South Korea or the United States Congress and thus has not yet entered into force.

ROK President Lee will attend the General Assembly and give a speech pledging that his country will take greater responsibility in international affairs, the office said.

On September 22,  he will attend a high-level nuclear safety meeting and speak about South Korea's efforts in the field, as well as preparations for the Nuclear Security Summit in Seoul next March which The opening plenary meeting will be held in the General Assembly Hall. The opening plenary meeting will be chaired by the Secretary-General and the provisional list of invited speakers includes the Heads of States or Government of Brazil, France, Japan, Kazakhstan, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Ukraine and United States as well as the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency. See more detail for September 22nd, 2011  Meeting .

President Lee Myung Bak's visiting to Washington State is not the first time, he visited Seattle when he was Mayor for Seoul in South Korea which he started Mayor in year 2002. President Lee Myung Bak altered the South Korean government's approach to North Korea, preferring a more hardline strategy in the wake of increased provocations from the North Korea.  President Lee Myung Bak, has emerged as a major player of the  Global Financial Crisis and on the international scene through hosting the 2010 G-20 Seoul summit.

Sources: UN, wikipedia catch4all.com, Sandra Englund, , September 21, 2011