President Obama And South Korean Leader To Visit Metro Detroit

DETROIT  (WWJ/AP) - President Barack Obama will travel to the Detroit metro area next week with South Korean President Lee Myung-bak.

According to the Associated Press the South Korean leader will be in the United States for an official state visit on Friday - which will highlight the benefits of a pending trade agreement between the U.S. and South Korea.

According to the Detroit News the free trade deal has won the backing of Detroit's Big Three automakers, the United Auto Workers union and nearly all of Michigan's congressional delegation after the Obama administration won new protections for U.S. automakers that weren't included in the original treaty reached by the Bush administration.

The administration estimates the pending U.S.-South Korea agreement will increase American goods exports to South Korea by $10 billion to $11 billion and support at least 70,000 American jobs nationwide.

Congress is scheduled to vote on that agreement and on pacts with Colombia and Panama next week.

Lee and his wife will attend a state dinner Thursday at the White House.

Obama is fond of saying that if Americans can buy South Korea-made Kias and Hyundais, he wants to see South Koreans driving Fords and Chevys and Chryslers.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.