|
Traditional Thai massage has become an unlikely point of contention in Korea¡¯s free-trade talks with ASEAN. As a free-trade agreement would cover services as well as goods, the Thai government is asking Korea to permit the establishment of Thai massage parlors in Korea, with the concomitant permission for Thais to set up such businesses here.
The ventures would be assured of success as many Koreans have already experienced the benefits of Thai massage on trips to the popular holiday destination.
But under the Medical Services Law, massage and acupressure therapy are open only to the blind in Korea. If the government accepts the Thai request, it would face a barrage of protests from the vision-impaired.
Since Thailand is a leader of the 10-member Southeast Asian bloc, the Korean government will find it difficult to refuse, particularly since Bangkok alone has declined to sign the basic agreement on commodities reached with ASEAN last December, saying it does not stand to benefit.
The result is a headache to the government from a practice popular around the world for soothing aches and pains.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
|
