Jeong Hwang-geun Meets Hanwoo Association: "Import Beef Quota Tariff Inevitable, Support for Farmers Including Slaughter Fees"

[Asia Economy Sejong=Reporter Kim Hyewon] Jeong Hwang-geun, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, held a policy meeting combined with a courtesy meeting with the National Hanwoo Association to share current issues and communicate.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and the Hanwoo Association on the 13th, Minister Jeong asked for understanding from the Hanwoo Association's executive members at the meeting the day before, stating that the application of a 100,000-ton tariff quota on imported beef is an unavoidable policy to alleviate the public's high inflation burden. Instead, Minister Jeong conveyed his intention to ensure that Hanwoo farmers do not suffer damage by providing support such as feed funds and slaughter fee subsidies for Hanwoo cows during the Chuseok peak season.

Minister Jeong said, "In cases where concessions from the agricultural sector are necessary, support must accompany them, which is the shared view of President Yoon Seok-yeol and myself," adding, "The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs will continue to do its best to protect the agricultural sector and maintain self-sufficiency as a department representing agricultural interests."

The Hanwoo Association requested more active support for the development of the Hanwoo industry, including various regulatory improvements, support for Hanwoo export activation, and expansion of information and communication technology (ICT) equipment distribution through modernization projects of livestock facilities. In response, Minister Jeong said, "Maintaining and developing the Hanwoo industry is very important from the perspective of food security," and added, "We will continue to work with producer organizations, including the Hanwoo Association, to improve systems and provide various policy supports to ensure the sustainability of the Hanwoo industry." He also stated that he would share issues in advance and arrange communication opportunities anytime to find solutions.

Kim Sam-ju, President of the National Hanwoo Association, said, "This meeting was a valuable occasion scheduled a month in advance with Hanwoo leaders for a sustainable Hanwoo industry, so we ask for the government's progressive attitude and policy review and implementation."

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