Chuseok Agricultural and Marine Gift Limit Raised to 200,000 Won 'Idle'... Prime Minister Kim Says "Exceptions Difficult Without Legal Revision"

June 6 National Assembly Budget Committee Full Meeting
"No Amendment to the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act, Only Requests for Exceptions" Reprimand

Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum attended the plenary meeting of the Special Committee on Budget and Accounts held at the National Assembly on the 6th and responded to questions from lawmakers. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum responded on the 6th to a parliamentary inquiry about raising the gift value limit for agricultural, livestock, and fishery products during the Chuseok holiday from 100,000 won to 200,000 won, saying, "It is difficult to keep applying exceptions without amending the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act."

Prime Minister Kim made these remarks while attending the plenary session of the National Assembly's Special Committee on Budget and Accounts that day.

Jeon Hyun-hee, Chairperson of the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission, responded to People Power Party lawmaker Jung Woon-cheon's question, "Will the gift value limit be raised for Chuseok?" by saying, "While we deeply empathize with the difficulties faced by farmers and fishermen, the authority to decide on the enforcement decree related to the gift value limit lies with the full commission of the Anti-Corruption Commission."

When lawmaker Jung said, "If the Chairperson of the Anti-Corruption Commission cannot (raise the limit), the Prime Minister should give instructions," Prime Minister Kim said, "Honestly, the political circle needs to change the law," adding, "The political circle keeps giving exceptions every holiday without bearing the (political) burden, so it keeps happening like this."

Prime Minister Kim emphasized, "Lawmakers should confidently persuade the public so that the government can execute it. It is difficult to keep creating exceptions (raising the gift value limit) like this."

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