Trade Minister Bark Tae-ho will sign up as a candidate for director-general of the World Trade Organization, the ministry said Friday.

“The government has decided that Trade Minister Bark Tae-ho will run for WTO director-general to be elected by late May next year. His candidacy will be registered through the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Korea to the U.N. Secretariat and International Organizations in Geneva,” the ministry said in a statement.

Incumbent WTO director-general Pascal Lamy’s term expires on Aug. 31, 2013. The new chief’s four-year term begins the next day. The WTO director-general can serve up to two consecutive terms.

Seven people excluding Bark have registered their candidacy so far, and more could sign up by Dec. 31, the deadline.

They include Indonesian Minister for Tourism and Creative Economy Mari Elka Pangestu, former Jordanian Trade Minister Ahmad Hindawi, ex-Ghanaian Trade Minister Alan John Kyerematen, assistant secretary general of the U.N. Environment Program Amina Mohamed from Kenya, former Mexican Trade Minister Hermino Blanco, Costa Rican Trade Minister Anabel Gonzalez and New Zealand’s Trade Minister Tim Groser.

Due to the technical complexity of trade negotiations, the candidate’s personal capabilities and credentials are the main qualifications required for nomination as the WTO chief.

According to WTO rules, candidates should have extensive experience in international relations, encompassing economic, trade and/or political experience; a firm commitment to the work and objectives of the WTO; proven leadership and managerial ability; and demonstrated communications skills.

As an international trade expert, Bark has been directly or indirectly involved in policy decisions by international organizations such as the APEC as well as the Seoul government for decades, participated in the Uruguay Round negotiations that led to the launch of the WTO, served as trade committee chair between 2007 and 2010, and has administrative experience as the top official on Korea’s trade policy since late last year.

By Kim So-hyun (sophie@heraldcorp.com)