SEOUL, Nov. 23 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Myung-bak instructed the government on Wednesday to take thorough follow-up measures to make the best use of the just-ratified free trade agreement with the United States to boost the economy and minimize any damage to local small businesses.

It was Lee's first comment since the ruling party-controlled National Assembly approved the deal in a chaotic, tear gas-marred session Tuesday. The ratification paved the way for the landmark pact to take effect next year, which officials say would expand exports, create jobs and strengthen Seoul's alliance with Washington.

"The government will conduct a thorough review of measures raised during parliamentary discussions," Lee said during an emergency meeting with related Cabinet ministers, referring to steps that lawmakers have called for to protect farmers and other small merchants from damage from the trade deal.

"What achievement the Korea-U.S. FTA will produce depends on how we do," Lee said. "If the government, businesses and workers are all united together, we can produce big achievements."

Seeing no chance of a negotiated approval of the deal, Lee's ruling Grand National Party called a surprise parliamentary session and approved the pact despite protests from opposition lawmakers.

One angry opposition member set off tear gas in the main parliamentary chamber in an attempt to block the bill's passage.

In an effort to break the deadlock, Lee proposed last week that he would seek renegotiation of the contentious clause if the parliament ratified the deal first, but the opposition party rejected the demand, sticking to its existing position that the deal should be revised first.

Lee has aggressively sought free trade agreements with foreign countries, saying such deals would expand the country's economic territory.

"We have expanded our economic territory to cover 61 percent of the world gross domestic product," Lee said. "This means that we're moving one step ahead of any other country we compete with. If we seize this opportunity and unite our strength, we can overcome the (global economic) crisis and make a leap."