Democrats' Relay 'Head-Shaving Protest'... Yoon's Full Offensive on 'Grain Act Veto'

Increased Possibility of Yoon Exercising Veto Power
Democratic Party Engages in Direct Actions Such as Head-Shaving Protests and Signature Campaigns
Additional Legislation Discussed if Veto Is Exercised

The Democratic Party of Korea has launched a full-scale offensive as President Yoon Suk-yeol is widely expected to exercise his veto power against the amendment to the Grain Management Act, which was passed by the National Assembly led by the opposition party. They are pressuring the government and ruling party through actions such as head-shaving protests, condemnation rallies, visits to the presidential office to lodge complaints, and a nationwide signature campaign among farmers. They are determined to enforce the Grain Management Act through additional legislation in response to President Yoon's veto.

Park Hong-geun, the floor leader of the Democratic Party, criticized on the morning of the 3rd at the on-site Supreme Council meeting in Jeju, saying, "President Yoon Suk-yeol is currently viewing the Grain Management Act not as legislation for farmers and public livelihood, but solely as a means of confrontation with the opposition party," adding, "If the president were to consider the desperate feelings of farmers even once, he would never act like this." He further stated, "What President Yoon should do is not to exercise the veto power on the Grain Management Act but to promulgate it immediately."

On the same day, the Democratic Party held a meeting of the Agriculture, Forestry, Livestock, Food, and Maritime Affairs Committee at the National Assembly to conduct urgent inquiries regarding the amendment to the Grain Management Act, followed by a condemnation rally in the afternoon attended by farmer representatives to oppose the president's veto. In particular, members of the Democratic Party, including Shin Jeong-hoon, head of the Rice Price Normalization Task Force (TF), and farmer representatives, plan to hold a head-shaving ceremony. Previously, Yoon Jae-gap, chairman of the Agriculture, Food, Rural Affairs, and Maritime Affairs Committee and a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, had shaved his head at a condemnation rally against the humiliating diplomacy of importing Fukushima seafood held at the National Assembly the previous morning.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The Rice Price Normalization TF and the Democratic Party's National Committee of Farmers and Fishermen are organizing a "10,000 Farmers Signature Campaign" involving farmers on site. The TF is also planning a protest visit to the Yongsan Presidential Office with farmers within this week. In a phone interview with this paper, Representative Shin said, "The government cites opposition from farmers' organizations as the reason for opposing the amendment to the Grain Management Act, but none of the farmers on site oppose it," explaining, "The purpose is for farmers to come up themselves and raise their voices." He added, "We will make our party's firm stance clear regarding the president's veto expected at tomorrow's Cabinet meeting," and said, "If the veto is exercised, we will continue related legislation."

If the president exercises the veto and requests the National Assembly to reconsider the bill, the National Assembly must have a quorum of more than half of all members and obtain approval from two-thirds of the members present to reapprove it. Since this means that even if all 299 members attend, about 200 votes in favor are required, it is pointed out that realistically, the amendment to the Grain Management Act is unlikely to pass. A Democratic Party floor official explained, "If the president exercises the veto, the possibility of reapproval is not high," adding, "Until today (the 3rd) and tomorrow (the 4th), we have no choice but to try our best to prevent the veto from being exercised."

The Democratic Party plans to focus on questioning the president's veto exercise and government measures regarding the amendment to the Grain Management Act during the National Assembly's government questioning session on economic affairs scheduled for the 4th.

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