Lee Gae-ho, Chairman of the Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs Committee, Focuses on Balanced National Assembly Audit Proceedings

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] As the 21st National Assembly's first audit of state affairs is approaching its final stage, Lee Gae-ho, Chairman of the Agriculture, Food, Rural Affairs, Oceans and Fisheries Committee (Democratic Party·Damyang-Hampyeong-Yeonggwang-Jangseong), is drawing attention for his dual role as a ruling party audit committee member through balanced and smooth parliamentary proceedings and diverse policy suggestions.

This year's audit by the Agriculture, Food, Rural Affairs, Oceans and Fisheries Committee included highly contentious issues prone to conflict between the ruling and opposition parties, such as the West Sea government official shooting incident and the Optimus Fund investment loss problem. Despite concerns about smooth audits, the process has proceeded without a single disruption so far.

Chairman Lee is making efforts to ensure smooth progress of the audit by mediating conflicts between the ruling and opposition parties from as neutral a position as possible. At the same time, as a ruling party audit member, he is actively raising candid criticisms and policy advice regarding the actual conditions of audited institutions, fulfilling the original purpose of the audit, which is government oversight and control.

During the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs audit, he criticized Doosan Heavy Industries, which recorded sales of 15 trillion won, for contributing only 1 million won?less than 0.00001%?to the Rural Coexistence Fund established to support rural areas, calling it an act that mocks the purpose of the system. He urged active participation from private large corporations.

At the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, he conveyed fishermen's concerns about the expansion policy of offshore wind power and requested thorough efforts to listen to fishermen's voices during the expansion process and to ensure compensation and institutional arrangements to prevent damages.

Meanwhile, at the Korea Rural Community Corporation audit, he emphasized that farmers have significant concerns about the national water management unification policy and stressed the need to actively reflect the special characteristics of agricultural water management in the policy.

Regarding the Korea Forest Service, he pointed out that 92% of landslides caused by the recent flood occurred outside designated landslide-prone areas and called for a comprehensive readjustment of the designation and management of landslide-prone areas.

During the National Agricultural Cooperative Federation (NongHyup) audit, he pointed out the insufficient performance in revitalizing economic projects following the restructuring of NongHyup's central association business structure. He urged NongHyup to actively promote economic projects to increase farm income, continuously conveying the difficult realities of rural areas and emphasizing the need for policies benefiting farmers throughout the audit period.

Especially at the Korea Rural Community Corporation audit, where the investment loss issue related to the Optimus Fund was a major topic, he actively refuted opposition party allegations linking party leader Lee Nak-yeon to the matter, drawing a clear line against related rumors.

Chairman Lee stated, “As a parliamentarian from a rural background, a former Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, and the standing chairman of the Agriculture, Food, Rural Affairs, Oceans and Fisheries Committee, I feel a heavy responsibility to protect and develop our agriculture and fisheries.” He added, “I will continue to do my best in my role so that the committee can be faithfully operated as a platform for productive policy development for farmers and fishermen, with unity beyond party lines.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.