First Move to Soothe Farmers... Minseok Kim Steps In to Justify Mireyong Song's Retention

"Retention of Minister Song Holds Significance in the Context of National Unity"

Prime Minister Minseok Kim stated on July 4, regarding the retention of Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Mireyong Song, "I thought that retaining at least one minister from the previous administration in the new government would be meaningful in terms of the overall flow of national unity."

On this day, Prime Minister Kim met with representatives of farmers' organizations who were staging a sit-in protest in front of the War Memorial of Korea in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, in opposition to the decision to retain Minister Song. This visit to the protest site was his first official schedule after receiving his letter of appointment from President Jaemyung Lee at the Presidential Office in Yongsan.

Prime Minister Minseok Kim, on his first schedule after taking office, is visiting a farmers' group protesting in front of the Presidential Office in Yongsan, Seoul on July 4, 2025. Photo by Dongju Yoon

Farmers' organizations have been holding rallies demanding the withdrawal of Minister Song's retention, criticizing her for referring to the so-called "Four Agricultural Laws" (the Grain Management Act, the Act on Distribution and Price Stabilization of Agricultural and Fishery Products, the Act on Countermeasures against Agricultural and Fishery Disasters, and the Agricultural and Fishery Disaster Insurance Act) as the "Four Laws Ruining Agriculture" (Nongmang 4 Beop).

Prime Minister Kim's decision to visit the protest site as his first public schedule after his appointment is seen as an attempt to address the concerns of the agricultural community. During the approximately one-hour meeting, he listened to the opinions of the representatives of the farmers' organizations, while also focusing on explaining the rationale behind retaining Minister Song.

Prime Minister Kim said, "I fully empathize with the feelings of the farmers. I completely understand why you are raising these issues," but added, "The President has a strong awareness of food sovereignty, food security, and agricultural sovereignty. He also has a stronger sense than any previous administration that the government must directly manage agricultural policy. I hope that you will not distrust the new government's policies just yet."

He further stated, "I imagine that it was not easy for Minister Song to accept and decide on her own retention, but if I were in her position, I would also think deeply about these concerns, try to understand why they are being raised, and express my thoughts. When I meet with Minister Song, regardless of her position, I will convey these sentiments to her as well."

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