To bolster support for the Korea-U.S. FTA negotiations, the government has decided to launch the Korea-U.S. FTA Support Committee under the President and named former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance and Economy Han Duck-soo, 57, as the chairman of the committee. Chung Tae-ho, spokesman of Cheong Wa Dae, said in a briefing for reporters, "The committee will collect various opinions about the Korea-U.S. FTA from all walks of life in the country and seek sound discussions by explaining the exact situation and providing information about the FTA to the people." "Considering that the Korea-U.S. FTA is a very important issue to decide the future course of the nation, President Roh Moo-hyun directly requested former Deputy Premier Han to assume the chairmanship and Han expressed his intention to do best for success of the Korea-U.S. FTA," Chung said. Han who also served as head of the trade negotiation headquarters and Korea Institute for Industrial Economics & Trade will assume the post for the presidential secretary for Korea-U.S. FTA, along with the chairmanship of the Korea-U.S. FTA Support Committee.