Another candidate for top WTO seat

GENEVA - Reuters

South Korea nominated Taeho Bark, its trade minister, to lead the World Trade Organization on Friday, making him the eighth candidate to be put forward for the top job.

Bark’s candidacy was submitted three days before nominations close and as Pascal Lamy, the global trade body’s current director general, prepares to step down on Aug. 31, 2013.

Although Lamy has said his successor should be chosen on the basis of competence alone, some trade diplomats say it is the turn of a developing country to hold the job.

Bark is the second candidate from a rich country and the third from the Asia-Pacific to apply.