Korean ambassador working to boost economic ties to U.S.

By Richard N. Velotta (contact), In Business reporter

Fri, Jun 26, 2009 (3 a.m.)

It’s hard to tell how much Las Vegas has benefited from the South Korean visa waiver program that took effect last year, but that country’s new ambassador to the United States is anxious to develop more economic ties to boost trade with the state.

Han Duk-soo, who became ambassador in January, was in Las Vegas to recognize the service of Southern Nevada’s Korean War veterans. He discussed his country’s support of expanding economic relations with the United States and the escalating threat of North Korea on June 22 with the editorial board of the Las Vegas Sun, a sister publication of In Business Las Vegas.

Han is an economic expert and served in various trade positions after receiving a doctorate in economics from Harvard University, espousing a philosophy of deregulation and open markets.

He said the visa waiver program and new trade treaties with the United States could pay dividends to Nevada.

Han said it’s difficult to gauge how successful the visa waiver program has been because it took effect in November after the recession had taken hold. The program enables foreign citizens to travel to the United States for tourism or business for up to 90 days without securing a visa. South Korea was the fourth Asian country to be approved.

The United States enjoys most of the benefits of expanded economic relations, Han said, with far more Koreans interested in visiting the United States than Americans going to Korea. He said South Korea has done little to market itself to Americans.

Las Vegas benefits in tourism, with Korean Airlines offering three nonstop round trips a week between Seoul and McCarran International Airport — the only nonstop service between Las Vegas and Asia.

The Nevada Economic Development Commission said South Korea is Nevada’s 18th largest international trading partner out of 141 markets, with state businesses exporting $59.4 million in goods in 2008.

Al Di Stefano, director of global trade and investment for the commission, said his office doesn’t track imports, but in general the state is a key exporter of minerals, manufactured goods including electronics, clothing and prepared food.

Nevada was one of three states that increased exports in the first quarter of 2009, much of it attributable to metals, stone and cement products. Although Northern Nevada manufacturers and suppliers exported the most goods, some Southern Nevada businesses have benefited, including the World Market Center.

Di Stefano said furniture and related exports were up 28 percent in the first quarter compared with a year earlier.

Han said North Koreans aren’t likely to protest against their rulers as have Iranians as the Asian nation moves closer to becoming a legitimate nuclear threat.

“The availability of information (in North Korea) is very different from with the situation in Iran,” Han said. “First of all, no Internet is allowed except for the very select few at the top echelon of power. Maybe Kim Jong Il uses the Internet, but most (people) are cut off from those kinds of tools. Even radio and television are not allowed for the people. They allow one channel, the state channel.”

There may be a small number of North Koreans using mobile telephones illegally near the Chinese border, Han said, and some have tried to communicate by sending messages attached to balloons.

“The Iranian government has been somewhat cautious in putting too many restrictions on the Internet because it would lead to a larger number of people taking to the street because they have no other means of expressing their opinions,” Han said. “In North Korea they have been repressed for so long that there would be very little chance of them expressing themselves.”

But Han said he has confidence that growing sentiment from the international community against North Korea’s nuclear proliferation would win out. He said considering South Korea’s relationship with the United States and its military, North Korea would be confronted by China and other Asian nations over its nuclear escalation.

Han said in addition to economic sanctions against North Korea, he expects its ships could be boarded and searched to prevent nuclear proliferation.