Minju Emphasizes Need for 'Grain Management Act Amendment' Led by Farmers' Representatives... Review Scheduled at Afternoon Agriculture Committee

Park Hong-geun "Will Handle It in the Agenda Coordination Committee"
Farmers' Representatives Emphasize the Necessity in Unison

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is delivering opening remarks at the 'Supreme Council Meeting People's Speech Platform - Rice Price Stabilization Edition' held at the National Assembly on the 12th. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jun-yi] The opposition party has appointed a farmers' representative as the chairperson of the Supreme Council meeting to push for the passage of the Grain Management Act amendment bill, which mandates rice market isolation. This move aims to emphasize their determination to pass the bill at the agenda adjustment committee meeting scheduled for the afternoon.

The leadership of the Democratic Party of Korea set up a public speaking platform at the Supreme Council meeting on the 12th. Attendees included Kim Myung-gi, President of the National Rice Producers Association; Eom Cheong-nae, Policy Chairman of the National Rice Producers Association; Noh Chang-deuk, President of the Jeonbuk Federation of the Korea Successor Agricultural Managers Central Union; and Moon Byung-wan, former Chairman of the National Agricultural Cooperative Federation RPC Operations Council.

The farmers' representatives urged the amendment of the Grain Management Act. Policy Chairman Eom stated, "The cause of the rice price collapse was triggered by the Democratic Party under the Moon Jae-in administration in 2019, which clumsily amended the Grain Management Act, and the worst situation in 2021 is being caused by the Yoon Seok-yeol administration. Even now, there should be reflection at the highest level regarding the root cause of the rice price issue."

He added, "The ongoing legislative efforts for automatic rice market isolation currently debated in the National Assembly must be fully revised into a complete Grain Management Act. The National Assembly should take the price-setting authority to ensure fair trade of rice prices."

In response, Party Leader Lee Jae-myung emphasized, "Although the People Power Party strongly opposes, as the Democratic Party had previously prepared, we will push forward as quickly and strongly as possible with the introduction of a substitute crop support system to preserve cultivation areas and the isolation system for automatic market isolation."

Policy Committee Chairman Kim Sung-hwan also pointed out the issue of insufficient budget allocation. He said, "Budget support is necessary for rice market isolation, but not a single penny has been reflected. Along with the amendment of the law, we will ensure that the budget for cultivating substitute crops is included in next year's budget so that structural problems can be resolved starting next year, and the Democratic Party will take good care of this."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

That afternoon, the National Assembly's Agriculture, Food, Rural Affairs, Oceans and Fisheries Committee will hold its third agenda adjustment meeting to review the Grain Management Act amendment bill and others. However, the possibility of non-attendance by members from the People Power Party cannot be ruled out. Regarding this, Floor Leader Park Hong-geun stated, "The Democratic Party cannot afford to delay due to the continuous opposition from the People Power Party. We have no choice but to hold the agenda adjustment meeting today and pass the Grain Management Act amendment bill."

Democratic Party lawmaker Lee Won-taek, a member of the agenda adjustment committee, said, "We will do our best at the agenda adjustment committee as well." Lawmaker Shin Jeong-hoon also said, "It would be good to understand that this is not just about mandating market isolation but fundamentally preventing oversupply through production adjustment as a prerequisite, so it can be called the 'Market Isolation Minimization Act.' Since there is no budget for production adjustment in next year's budget, I hope the party leader and floor leader will put a lot of effort into ensuring the budget is reflected in the National Assembly."

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