Price Stability Efforts... Party and Government Announce "Release of 2,900 Tons of Available Cabbage"

People Power Party leader Kim Ki-hyun and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo are entering the high-level party-government consultation meeting held at the National Assembly on the 22nd.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

The government is launching an all-out effort to stabilize prices. Ahead of the kimchi-making season, it will release 2,900 tons of available cabbage supply to address concerns about unstable supply and demand. Additionally, for items with significant price increases and high consumption such as ginger and green onions, the government plans to induce price stabilization through support for delivery unit prices.

On the 22nd, the government, the People Power Party, and the Presidential Office held a high-level council meeting at the National Assembly and decided on these measures, according to a briefing by Park Jeong-ha, chief spokesperson of the People Power Party.

The high-level council also plans to introduce emergency tariff quotas on imported fruits in November to alleviate shortages in domestic agricultural and livestock products and food raw materials supply. For apples, whose prices have risen sharply due to damage from high and low temperatures, 15,000 tons of contract-grown apples will be shipped early.

At the meeting, the high-level council declared a policy stance of "placing the stabilization of people’s livelihoods as the top priority, and making every effort to stabilize prices of essential goods for low-income households and ease the burden on vulnerable groups such as small business owners."

The People Power Party pointed out the need to ease the burden on vulnerable groups due to rising energy prices and requested active measures from the government. The government announced that it will unveil support measures for vulnerable groups and social welfare facilities, according to spokesperson Park.

Regarding energy supply stability measures, under the judgment that oil and gas reserves are sufficient, a public-private joint emergency response system will be activated to monitor reserve status and tanker operations in real time.

Depending on the supply crisis stage, various measures will be implemented, including encouraging diversification of import sources, securing alternative routes, releasing government stockpiled oil, initiating the import of overseas emergency supplies, and reducing demand.

In relation to the recently occurring bovine viral disease, "Lumpy Skin Disease," special grants will be promptly allocated to relevant local governments. The party actively requested this, and the government immediately accepted it.

Considering that 595 regional festivals are scheduled nationwide this month, the council also discussed enhanced safety measures to prepare for crowd gatherings. During the Halloween period, crowd safety management plans will be established and implemented, major crowded areas will be monitored in real time, and senior officials from the Ministry of the Interior and Safety will be dispatched to key locations such as Itaewon, Hongdae, Myeongdong, and Daegu Dongseong-ro to ensure rapid on-site response.

The People Power Party requested the government to actively implement "forward guidance" on major economic policies such as prices and interest rates.

This high-level council meeting was the first since the People Power Party reorganized its leadership following the by-election defeat for the mayor of Gangseo District, Seoul. The fact that the party-government-presidential high-level council, which had been held at the Prime Minister’s official residence, was held at the National Assembly for the first time in 10 months is interpreted as a sign of the party’s intention to lead policy going forward.

Attending the council from the party were Representative Kim Ki-hyun, Floor Leader Yoon Jae-ok, Deputy Floor Leader Lee Yang-su, newly appointed Policy Committee Chair Yoo Ui-dong, Secretary-General Lee Man-hee, and Chief Spokesperson Park Jeong-ha.

From the government side were Prime Minister Han Deok-soo, Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee Sang-min, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Jeong Hwang-geun, and Director of the Office for Government Policy Coordination Bang Ki-seon. From the Presidential Office were Chief Presidential Secretary Kim Dae-gi and Senior Secretary for State Affairs Planning Lee Gwan-seop.

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