[AK Radio] Han Deok-su Acting President May Exercise Veto on Grain Act

Following the impeachment resolution against President Yoon Seok-yeol, the inauguration of Acting President Han Deok-su's administration has sparked political controversy surrounding the exercise of veto power. In particular, attention is focused on whether vetoes will be exercised on six bills passed by the opposition party, as well as on the Kim Geon-hee special prosecutor law and the treason special prosecutor law. Acting President Han is facing his first major political decision since taking office.

The six bills under consideration for veto were passed under opposition leadership at the National Assembly plenary session on the 28th of last month and were sent to the government on December 6. These bills can be broadly categorized into three areas. First, the amendment to the Grain Management Act mandates the government to compulsorily purchase rice if rice prices fall sharply. Second, agricultural-related bills including the Act on Distribution and Price Stabilization of Agricultural and Fishery Products and the Agricultural and Fishery Disaster Insurance Act are included. Third, bills related to National Assembly operations, such as amendments to the National Assembly Act and the National Assembly Testimony and Inspection Act.

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The government has expressed particular concern about the Grain Management Act. The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Livestock holds the position that supporting rice prices through government financial input could rather undermine agricultural competitiveness and lead to overproduction of rice. Acting President Han appears to largely inherit this existing government stance. In a phone call with Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, on the 14th, he expressed the view that the six bills were "inappropriate considering the future of the Republic of Korea," and at the commemoration ceremony for Mid-sized Enterprises Day on the 16th, he stated that "the constitution, laws, and systems and policies for the future of the Republic of Korea must be maintained and realized."

However, instead of immediately exercising veto power, Acting President Han is seeking dialogue and compromise between the ruling and opposition parties. Although it was initially expected that the decision on whether to exercise veto power would be made at the regular Cabinet meeting on the 17th, this has been postponed to the 19th or 20th to secure additional time for consultation. The Kim Geon-hee special prosecutor law and the treason special prosecutor law passed the National Assembly on the 12th but have not yet been sent to the government. Unlike the six livelihood bills, there is more time regarding these bills. However, the political impact is expected to be much greater.

The Democratic Party of Korea is employing a dual strategy. Regarding the veto on the six bills, it is showing a cautious attitude by refraining from immediately pushing for impeachment against Acting President Han. This is interpreted as an awareness of public fatigue over repeated impeachment attempts. On the other hand, it maintains a hardline stance by indicating that impeachment proceedings will commence if vetoes are exercised on the Kim Geon-hee special prosecutor law or the treason special prosecutor law. This strategy is analyzed as considering the political symbolism and high public interest these two special prosecutor laws carry. Exercising veto power on the six bills could negatively affect cooperation with the opposition, while vetoing the special prosecutor laws could trigger a larger political upheaval.

Accordingly, the government is seeking new solutions. In the case of the livelihood bills, an alternative under consideration is to exercise veto power first and then pursue amended and supplemented legislation through bipartisan agreement. This is based on the judgment that political confrontation can be resolved through dramatic consensus, as seen in the past nursing law case.

Unlike in the past, the public now views the excessive use of veto power by politicians or the opposition’s forceful passage of bills with a more discerning eye. This suggests that the political sphere can no longer operate the government in the same way as before.

The issue of exercising veto power, which will be the first test for the acting administration, is expected to become a crucial turning point in future political management. With the December 21 deadline approaching, the government is expected to make a final decision on the six bills at an extraordinary Cabinet meeting around the 19th or 20th.

The controversy over whether to exercise veto power goes beyond the simple issue of bill processing; it is likely to serve as a touchstone for gauging the new direction of Korean politics after impeachment. Especially in the face of the era’s challenge of political stability through bipartisan cooperation, the political decision of Acting President Han is being closely watched not only by the political community but also by the public.

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