Ruling and Opposition Parties Decide Party Positions on Grain Management Act... Clash Ahead of Vote on the 13th

Agriculture, Food, and Fisheries Committee Holds Controversial Issue Inquiry
Grain Management Act Amendment Bill to Be Voted on in Plenary Session on the 13th

The ruling and opposition parties have decided on conflicting party positions regarding the amendment to the Grain Management Act, which will be re-voted on at the National Assembly plenary session on the 13th. The Democratic Party plans to push for the reapproval of the Grain Management Act amendment as a party position, while the People Power Party intends to reject it, signaling a continued strong confrontation between the two sides over the Grain Management Act.

Oh Young-hwan, the Democratic Party floor spokesperson, said at a meeting with reporters on the afternoon of the 11th, "We are strongly pushing and demanding the reapproval of the Grain Management Act at the plenary session on the 13th." He added, "We will pursue this as a party position," and said, "If it is submitted to the plenary session, we are preparing to hold a pro debate and government questioning on the agenda."

On the other hand, the People Power Party has decided as a party position to reject the Grain Management Act amendment, which is being re-voted on in the National Assembly following the president's veto. Yoon Jae-ok, the People Power Party floor leader, said after a party meeting held at the National Assembly in the afternoon, "We have adopted as a party position to reject the re-vote on the Grain Management Act amendment." Regarding the Nursing Act bill and Medical Service Act amendment, which are expected to be submitted together with the Grain Management Act amendment, he said, "We need to observe various situations more regarding whether to process them."

On the same day, the ruling and opposition parties engaged in fierce exchanges during the urgent inquiry related to the Grain Management Act amendment at the National Assembly Agriculture, Food, Rural Affairs, Oceans and Fisheries Committee (AFROF Committee). The People Power Party protested that the urgent inquiry was a unilateral procedural move by the Democratic Party, leading to sharp tensions.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

People Power Party Condemns "Democratic Party's Unilateral Procedural Move"

The AFROF Committee plenary session started about 40 minutes later than scheduled. Jeong Hee-yong, a People Power Party lawmaker, criticized, "The Democratic Party unilaterally took control of the committee and proceeded." Jeong said, "(The People Power Party) is not suggesting giving up on the rice price adjustment part. Since rice consumption is decreasing, we proposed reducing other parts to protect farmers together, but (the Democratic Party) is only highlighting conflicts between the ruling and opposition parties, turning even the AFROF Committee into a battleground for political strife, which is being criticized."

Another lawmaker from the same party, Ahn Byung-gil, retorted, "Since when has the AFROF Committee proceeded unilaterally without agreement between the ruling and opposition party floor leaders?" He added, "Is the issue of the Grain Management Act or Fukushima contaminated water something that just happened recently? These issues have existed since the Moon Jae-in administration. Why does the same issue change just because the government changed?" He further stated, "If the ruling and opposition party floor leaders agree on the schedule according to established procedures and conduct inquiries accordingly, wouldn't that be sufficient? Ignoring that leads to dysfunction and problems."

Democratic Party: "Minister of Agriculture Lies About Grain Act Effect Analysis"

During the main urgent inquiry, the Democratic Party claimed that Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Jeong Hwang-geun lied by presenting data that the Korea Rural Economic Institute had not analyzed.

Joo Cheol-hyun, a Democratic Party lawmaker, said, "I think I should start by stating the conclusion. The effect analysis of the Grain Management Act cited by the Minister of Agriculture and the Prime Minister in their public addresses and government questioning, as well as in President Yoon Seok-yeol's request for reconsideration, was never actually conducted by the Korea Rural Economic Institute. This is a clear lie." He emphasized, "The amendment granting discretionary power to the government cannot apply the Korea Rural Economic Institute's analysis model, so the figures and content in the public addresses and reconsideration request are clearly false."

In response, Minister Jeong said, "That is absolutely unacceptable. Can the prime minister of a country lie?"

However, Lawmaker Joo said, "They cited data as if it had been analyzed when it had not been," and Minister Jeong retorted, "You shouldn't say that. Children are watching. Where is the lie, lie?" During this exchange, voices briefly rose between ruling and opposition lawmakers.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Minister Jeong and the People Power Party side continued to point out problems with the Grain Management Act amendment.

Minister Jeong explained, "Rice consumption is rapidly declining, and the rice paddy area itself is gradually decreasing due to aging farmers. The paddy area realistically cannot increase. Moreover, in an oversupply situation where prices are falling, it is impossible for the paddy area to increase. The government cannot accept the amendment that sets impossible provisions and grants discretionary power to the government."

Jeong Hee-yong also added, "Among the mediation proposals put forward by the Democratic Party and the National Assembly Speaker, there is an exemption clause for compulsory purchase if the cultivated area increases. However, in the inquiry response, it was said that even if the cultivated area decreases, rice production exceeds rice consumption, which is the problem, so that exemption clause is practically meaningless."

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