South Korea's trade minister said Wednesday she is running to be the next director general of the World Trade Organization, joining several others eyeing the top post at the Geneva-based trade body.

If successful, 53-year-old Yoo Myung Hee would be the first South Korean and woman to head the organization.

Yoo's candidacy comes as her country is involved in a dispute with Japan at the WTO over the tightening last year of Japan's export controls on materials used by South Korean chipmakers.

(South Korea's trade minister Yoo Myung Hee is pictured in Beijing on Aug. 3, 2019)

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At Wednesday's press conference announcing her bid, Yoo denied the impact her possible appointment as WTO director general would have on the dispute.

She noted that the WTO head does not represent a particular country in a particular dispute.

In addition to Yoo, there are at least four other candidates from Egypt, Mexico, Nigeria and Moldova vying to succeed Brazilian Roberto Azevedo, who is set to step down at the end of August.

As minister for trade at the Trade, Industry and Energy Ministry, Yoo was involved in crafting South Korea's responses to Japan's toughening of rules governing the shipment of semiconductor materials to South Korea.

South Korea last week reopened its complaint with the WTO over the Japanese measure by asking the trade body to set up a dispute-settlement panel.

The WTO will accept nominations until July 8. Candidates will then present their views at a special General Council meeting. The council is supposed to arrive at its choice by consensus by narrowing the field of candidates through consultations.