South korean finance minister koo yun-cheol announced plans for south korea to broaden its free trade agreement (fta) network with emerging markets:

According to Qatar News Agency, the finance minister emphasized the importance of expanding the FTA network to support export growth rather than merely reacting to trade issues.

Koo Yun-cheol highlighted the structural changes in the global trade environment, caused by the weakening of multilateral trade norms and escalating competition among major countries. In light of these changes, the South Korean government sees an ongoing need to strategically expand and upgrade its FTA network.

The finance minister outlined plans to extend the FTA map to emerging markets, such as Southeast Asia, Latin America, and Africa, to enhance global supply chain diversification. South Korea has already signed 21 free trade deals covering 59 countries, as reported by the finance ministry.