Korea ’ s Trade Minister Kim Jong - hoon was quoted as saying Monday that he suspects that the U . S . Democratic presidential hopeful , Sen . Barack Obama ’ s remarks last Friday on the need for renegotiation of the free trade agreement between Korea and the U . S . have a “ political intention . ” U . S . Democratic front - runner Barack Obama , in a letter released on May 23 ( local time ) , urged President George W . Bush not to submit a “ badly flawed ” free trade agreement with South Korea to Congress for a vote , according to Reuters . When questioned whether Kim thinks Obama ’ s such remarks have any political intention during a KBS radio program aired on the morning of May 26 , Kim said “ yes ” adding that the U . S . political situation now looms with the presidential election nearing the finish line . “ I believe that Sen . Obama wrote a letter as such in the pressing situation that President Bush recently hosted a FTA - related event at the White House and the U . S . industries are urging Congress to pass the FTA bill as early as possible , ” said Kim . The fact that the U . S . automobile workers have yet chosen their candidate seems to have influenced Obama ’ s comment , Kim added . “ Considering that Korea has completed its political agenda as of now while the presidential election is still to come in the U . S . , Korea needs to take the initiative in ratifying the FTA . If we succeed in doing so , we can strengthen our negotiating power to pressure the other party to follow suit , ” Kim added . [ Sun - young Park / KHS ] [ ⓒ Maeil Business Newspaper & mk . co . kr , All rights reserved ]