Ambassador to Washington Han Duck-soo says he will work to gain the American people's understanding and consent for the South Korea-U.S. free trade agreement (FTA).

In a news conference at the Foreign Ministry in Seoul, he said the FTA will expand bilateral trade and investment and thereby create jobs and boost economic growth.

He said that although concluding the trade deal will be a difficult process, he is certain closer economic ties will only strengthen the bilateral alliance.

The ambassador said a recent report made by a U.S. Trade Representative regarding pending FTAs effectively lays out Washington’s position on trade policy. He said he found nothing in the report that would suggest the U.S. is set on renegotiating the trade deal.