'Grain Management Act' Blocked in Legislation Committee Heads Straight to Plenary Session... Opposition Unilaterally Passes

Negotiations Between Ruling and Opposition Leaders Must Take Place Over One Month

[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] The Grain Management Act, which had been blocked by the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee, was directly referred to the plenary session on the 28th through a vote by opposition party members despite opposition from the ruling party in the National Assembly's Agriculture, Food, Rural Affairs, Oceans and Fisheries Committee. If no consensus is reached during discussions between the ruling and opposition floor leaders over the next month, the bill can proceed to a voting procedure for submission to the plenary session.

On this day, the Agriculture, Food, Rural Affairs, Oceans and Fisheries Committee resolved the "Request for Submission of the Grain Management Act Amendment Bill to the Plenary Session" through a secret ballot and other methods at the full committee meeting. Although this bill was approved at the full committee meeting on October 19, the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, responsible for systematic and textual review, did not go through the deliberation process.

According to the current National Assembly Act, if the Legislation and Judiciary Committee does not review a bill from another standing committee within 60 days, the bill can be submitted to the plenary session with the approval of at least three-fifths of the total members through agreement between the standing committee secretaries or a secret ballot. Currently, among the 19 members of the Agriculture, Food, Rural Affairs, Oceans and Fisheries Committee, 11 are from the Democratic Party, and Yoon Mi-hyang, who previously held Democratic Party membership, joined the Democratic Party committee members to meet the three-fifths requirement.

The amendment to the Grain Management Act includes provisions requiring the government to compulsorily purchase rice when the excess production exceeds 3% of demand or when rice prices fall by more than 5% compared to the previous year.

Lee Yang-su, the People Power Party secretary of the Agriculture, Food, Rural Affairs, Oceans and Fisheries Committee, expressed concerns, saying, "The request for submission of the Grain Management Act amendment bill to the plenary session is a matter that has not gone through bipartisan agreement," and added, "In terms of content, it may cause oversupply by hindering market functions through market isolation and could trigger a decline in rice prices."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the other hand, Kim Seung-nam, the Democratic Party secretary of the Agriculture, Food, Rural Affairs, Oceans and Fisheries Committee, rebutted, saying, "This bill has been pending in the Legislation and Judiciary Committee for 60 days, and the standing committee can approve and submit the bill to the plenary session," and added, "Claiming that there was no bipartisan agreement ignores the procedures of the National Assembly Act." Regarding concerns about rice oversupply, Kim explained, "We proposed an exception clause for this law if rice supply is excessive or cultivation area increases, but there was no room for compromise as they were adamant about rejecting it."

Controversy also arose over the distribution of press releases related to the submission of the Grain Management Act to the plenary session to some agricultural specialized media ahead of the vote. People Power Party members countered, saying, "The handling of the request for submission of the Grain Management Act to the plenary session is not purely the will of Democratic Party members but evidence that the leadership, under instructions from Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung, took this step to divert attention from his judicial risks."

In response, Democratic Party members argued, "The press release was prepared by the Democratic Party's Agriculture, Food, Rural Affairs, Oceans and Fisheries Committee professional staff and was posted in the aides' Telegram chat room, and this content was leaked."

Despite opposition from the ruling party, all 12 Democratic Party members and Yoon voted anonymously, and the request for submission was approved with 12 votes in favor.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

So Byung-hoon, chairman of the Agriculture, Food, Rural Affairs, Oceans and Fisheries Committee and a Democratic Party member, responded to the ruling party's criticism that the bill was to shield leader Lee, saying, "This law is not directed by anyone," and "It is a law created by lawmakers under the direction of farmers." Referring to the one-month grace period after the request for submission to the plenary session was processed, So said, "It is possible to handle it with amendments," and added, "It is desirable for the ruling and opposition parties to create good proposals and make amendments."

Meanwhile, after the bill was processed, People Power Party members of the Agriculture, Food, Rural Affairs, Oceans and Fisheries Committee issued a statement saying, "The government, ruling party, most media, experts, and even farmers' organizations have repeatedly pointed out the side effects of the Grain Management Act amendment bill, which the Democratic Party is pushing through recklessly," and urged, "If the Democratic Party truly cares about farmers and rural areas' future, it should immediately stop the unilateral promotion of this agricultural ruin law, the Grain Management Act amendment bill, and actively participate in establishing policies that provide structural solutions to South Korea's rice market from a mid- to long-term perspective."

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