Seo Samseok's Four Laws for the Livelihoods of Farmers and Fishers Pass National Assembly Plenary Session

First Proposal of Mandatory Market Segregation in the Grain Management Act
"The Minimum Measure to Protect the Right to Livelihood of Farmers and Fishers"

Seosamsuk, member of the Democratic Party of Korea.

It has now become possible to guarantee the prices of agricultural and marine products, which have experienced significant fluctuations due to the climate crisis, rising labor costs, and increases in raw material prices.

On August 4, two amendment bills?the Grain Management Act and the Act on Distribution and Price Stabilization of Agricultural and Fishery Products (hereinafter referred to as the Agricultural and Fishery Products Act)?proposed by Seo Samseok, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea representing Yeongam, Muan, and Shinan in South Jeolla Province, passed the plenary session of the National Assembly.

Since the 20th National Assembly, Representative Seo has emphasized the need to amend four laws?the Grain Management Act, the Agricultural and Fishery Products Act, the Act on Countermeasures against Agricultural and Fishery Disasters, and the Agricultural and Fishery Disaster Insurance Act (collectively referred to as the "Four Agricultural and Fishery Disaster Laws")?in order to alleviate the economic burden on farming and fishing households caused by frequent natural disasters and rising fuel costs resulting from rapidly changing international circumstances.

Among these, the amendment to the Grain Management Act, which was first proposed by Representative Seo during the 21st National Assembly to make the market segregation of rice mandatory, was nullified due to a request for reconsideration (veto) by former President Yoon Sukyeol. Even though it was reintroduced in the 22nd National Assembly and passed the plenary session, it was rejected in December of last year when the previous administration requested reconsideration of all "Four Laws for the Livelihoods of Farmers and Fishers."

In response, Representative Seo reintroduced the Four Laws for the Livelihoods of Farmers and Fishers in June, and on July 23, two of these laws related to agricultural and fishery disasters passed the plenary session. On August 4, the amendments to the Grain Management Act and the Agricultural and Fishery Products Act were also passed, resulting in the adoption of all "Four Laws for the Livelihoods of Farmers and Fishers."

The Four Laws for the Livelihoods of Farmers and Fishers were finalized through the National Assembly's Agriculture, Food, Rural Affairs, Oceans, and Fisheries Committee, reflecting alternatives and establishing institutional measures to alleviate the economic burden on farmers and fishers. The amendment to the Grain Management Act now requires mandatory government purchase of grain if production exceeds a certain threshold or if prices fall, whereas previously such purchases were discretionary.

The amendment to the Agricultural and Fishery Products Act establishes the basis for introducing a "Price Stabilization System for Agricultural and Fishery Products" by forming a Price Adjustment Committee or Price Stabilization Review Committee that includes representatives of producers. If the price of agricultural or fishery products falls below a reference price, part or all of the price difference will be subsidized. Notably, the amendment proposed by Representative Seo is the only one among the 17 versions reviewed alongside the Agricultural and Fishery Products Act to include a "Price Stabilization System for Fishery Products."

Representative Seo stated, "The Four Laws for the Livelihoods of Farmers and Fishers are the minimum measures to protect the right to livelihood of farmers and fishers, and now sustainable development is in sight for farming and fishing households that have not even been guaranteed production costs." He added, "We will continue to supplement the contents that were not included, establish minimum living expenses and countermeasures against natural disasters, and secure food sovereignty."

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