Korea unlikely to join CPTPP by 2030

President Lee Jae Myung said Monday at Cheong Wa Dae that Korea is unlikely to complete CPTPP membership negotiations during his term, which ends in June 2030, but said the country should prepare for accession while protecting farmers and fishers. The 12-member trade bloc accounts for about 15 percent of global GDP, and joining requires approval from every member. A government assessment projected losses for agriculture, fisheries and forestry but gains for manufacturing. Lee said the government should develop safeguards for vulnerable sectors.

The assessment projected average annual agricultural production losses of 710 billion won, fisheries losses of 81.7 billion won and forestry losses of 60.6 billion won during the first 15 years after the pact takes effect for Korea.

Manufacturing-related production was projected to rise by 6.3 trillion won to 6.7 trillion won annually over the same period.

The government postponed its application after agricultural groups protested further market opening, and Lee had earlier directed officials to delay applying until after this year and hold more talks with farmers and fishers.

Trade Minister Kim Jung-kwan told a parliamentary audit on Thursday that he would make sure Korea joins CPTPP and said further consultations could build support among farmers and fishers.

Published Oct 26, 2026 3:44 pm KST

President urges groundwork for entry

President Lee Jae Myung speaks during a meeting with representatives from the farming, livestock, forestry and fisheries sectors at Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul, Monday. Yonhap

President Lee Jae Myung said Monday that Korea is unlikely to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) during his term, but stressed the need to lay the groundwork despite political criticism, while protecting farmers and fishers from losses.

Speaking at a meeting with representatives from the farming, livestock, forestry and fisheries sectors at Cheong Wa Dae, Lee said joining the mega trade bloc requires approval from every member country, making negotiations potentially lengthy.

The CPTPP comprises 12 countries, including major economies such as Japan, the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia.

It accounts for about 15 percent of global gross domestic product, making it one of the world’s largest free trade blocs.

“Even if we pursue CPTPP membership, it is far more likely that a final agreement will not be reached during my term,” Lee said, referring to his single five-year presidency, which ends in June 2030.

“Nevertheless, for the country as a whole, we have to do the groundwork despite some criticism so we can move to the next stage.”

The president stressed the need to join the pact, despite having told officials earlier this month to delay the application until after this year and hold more talks with farmers and fishers.

The application was postponed after agricultural groups protested further market opening, with their concerns growing after the government released an impact assessment on Sept. 28.

Farmers have also protested a separate nationwide farmland survey.

The analysis projected annual agricultural production losses averaging 710 billion won ($536.37 million) in the first 15 years after the pact takes effect for Korea.

Fisheries and forestry production were forecast to decline by 81.7 billion won and 60.6 billion won annually, respectively.

Manufacturing-related production, however, was projected to increase by 6.3 trillion won to 6.7 trillion won annually over the same period.

Lee acknowledged that farmers and fishers had made substantial sacrifices as Korea expanded its export markets, saying the country now had sufficient resources to support vulnerable sectors while pursuing necessary policies.

“We cannot live on semiconductors alone, but neither can we live on agriculture alone,” he said. “Everything must coexist in harmony.”

He rejected the notion that gains for the majority justify imposing losses on smaller groups.

“People must not be forced to suffer losses unilaterally simply because they lack power or are few in number,” Lee said.

Calling primary industries essential to national survival and security, he pledged to narrow differences and develop safeguards against damage to those sectors.

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources maintains that membership is necessary to diversify export markets and strengthen supply chains.

At a parliamentary audit on Thursday, Minister Kim Jung-kwan said, “As the minister responsible for trade, I will make sure we join CPTPP.”

The minister said his position broadly aligned with the president’s, describing further consultations as a way to build support among farmers and fishers.

李在明总统周一在青瓦台表示，韩国不太可能在其任期内（2030年6月结束）完成加入《全面与进步跨太平洋伙伴关系协定》（CPTPP）的谈判，但他表示，韩国应在保护农民和渔民利益的同时做好加入CPTPP的准备。CPTPP是一个由12个成员国组成的贸易集团，其经济总量约占全球GDP的15%，加入该协定需要所有成员国的批准。政府评估预测，加入CPTPP将对农业、渔业和林业造成损失，但制造业将受益。李在明表示，政府应为这些脆弱行业制定保障措施。

评估预测，该协议对韩国生效后的前 15 年内，韩国农业年均损失将达 7100 亿韩元，渔业年均损失将达 817 亿韩元，林业年均损失将达 606 亿韩元。

预计同期制造业相关生产每年将增加 6.3 万亿韩元至 6.7 万亿韩元。

在农业团体抗议进一步开放市场后，政府推迟了申请。此前，李显龙曾指示官员将申请推迟到今年以后，并与农民和渔民进行更多会谈。

韩国贸易部长金正冠周四在国会接受审计时表示，他将确保韩国加入《全面与进步跨太平洋伙伴关系协定》（CPTPP），并表示进一步磋商可以赢得农民和渔民的支持。

发布于2026年10月26日下午3:44（韩国标准时间）

总统敦促为入境做好准备

周一，韩国总统李在明在首尔青瓦台会见农业、畜牧业、林业和渔业代表时发表讲话。（韩联社）

李在明总统周一表示，韩国不太可能在其任期内加入《全面与进步跨太平洋伙伴关系协定》（CPTPP），但他强调，尽管面临政治批评，仍有必要为此奠定基础，同时保护农民和渔民免受损失。

李在青瓦台与农业、畜牧业、林业和渔业部门代表会面时表示，加入这个大型贸易集团需要得到每个成员国的批准，这使得谈判可能会很漫长。

CPTPP由12个国家组成，其中包括日本、英国、加拿大和澳大利亚等主要经济体。

它约占全球国内生产总值的15%，使其成为世界上最大的自由贸易集团之一。

李登辉表示：“即使我们寻求加入CPTPP，在我任期内达成最终协议的可能性也微乎其微。”他指的是他为期五年的总统任期，将于2030年6月结束。

“尽管如此，就整个国家而言，我们必须做好基础工作，即使会面临一些批评，这样我们才能进入下一阶段。”

尽管总统本月早些时候曾告诉官员们要将申请推迟到今年以后，并与农民和渔民进行更多会谈，但他仍然强调了加入该协议的必要性。

在农业团体抗议进一步开放市场后，该申请被推迟。9月28日政府发布影响评估报告后，他们的担忧日益加剧。

农民们也对另一项全国性的农田调查表示抗议。

分析预测，该协议对韩国生效后的前 15 年内，每年农业生产损失平均将达到 7100 亿韩元（5.3637 亿美元）。

预计渔业和林业产量每年将分别减少 817 亿韩元和 606 亿韩元。

然而，同期制造业相关生产预计每年将增加 6.3 万亿韩元至 6.7 万亿韩元。

李承认，随着韩国扩大出口市场，农民和渔民做出了巨大牺牲，并表示韩国现在有足够的资源来支持弱势群体，同时推行必要的政策。

他说：“我们不能只靠半导体生存，也不能只靠农业生存。万物必须和谐共存。”

他反对为了多数人的利益而牺牲少数群体利益的观点。

李说：“人们不应该仅仅因为缺乏权力或人数较少就被迫单方面承受损失。”

他称初级产业对国家生存和安全至关重要，并承诺缩小分歧，制定保障措施防止这些行业受到损害。

贸易、工业和资源部认为，加入该组织对于实现出口市场多元化和加强供应链至关重要。

周四，在国会审计中，金正冠部长表示：“作为负责贸易的部长，我将确保我们加入CPTPP。”

部长表示，他的立场与总统的立场大致一致，并称进一步磋商是争取农民和渔民支持的一种方式。