South Korea has begun shaping a strategy for follow-up negotiations with China under the Korea-China free trade agreement (FTA), focusing on services and investment barriers affecting content and tourism companies. Park Jong-sung, Minister for Trade Negotiations at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, chaired an Oct. 30 roundtable at the CJ ENM Center in Seoul with businesses from film, online video services (OTT), performance, gaming and tourism. Companies said Korean content remains popular and competitive in China, but regulatory barriers, discriminatory treatment and uncertainty over Chinese policy have prevented strong demand from translating into corporate profits or export growth. They called for the negotiations to secure equal treatment for Korean firms and faster, more transparent content review and licensing procedures. The government said it would use the proposals to strengthen its negotiating leverage, while participants urged institutional measures that improve the operating environment beyond nominal market opening. The Korea-China FTA mainly covers goods, while follow-up talks launched in 2018 seek to expand access in services and investment. Park said the government would work to reflect industry views in the negotiations.