Minister Song Miryung: "Adjusting Production Pace of Paddy Soybeans and Powdered Rice... 'Chicken Belt' to Be Designated Next Year"

Appeared on KBS’s ‘Sunday Diagnosis’ on the 19th

Song Miryung, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, announced on the 19th that the government will regulate the pace of production for paddy soybeans and powdered rice, which are at risk of being overproduced.

Song Miryung, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, is attending and speaking at the Growth Strategy Task Force and Ministerial Meeting on Strengthening Industrial Competitiveness held at the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul on September 10, 2025. Photo by Jo Yongjun

Appearing on KBS's "Sunday Diagnosis" program that day, Minister Song responded to concerns about a sharp increase in soybean inventory, stating, "If production rises rapidly without securing enough demand, there is a risk that prices will fall," and added, "We are currently discussing ways to control the rate of increase."

She said, "We need to reduce the price gap between imported and domestically produced soybeans so that more domestic soybeans are consumed," and added, "We will encourage food companies to use our soybeans to make tofu and to create a premium market."

Regarding powdered rice, she explained, "The previous administration set an excessive target, so we reduced it slightly last year," and added, "As new bakery products are continuously being developed, we need to promote consumption while also regulating the pace of production."

In response to criticism raised during the National Assembly audit that the structure of agricultural product distribution only benefits wholesale market corporations and large distributors, she said, "We will work to improve distribution efficiency, such as by lowering wholesale market fees," and added, "We will also stabilize the production base."

She also announced plans to designate a "chicken belt" next year and to promote projects that combine the chicken industry with rural tourism. Minister Song said, "If various types of chicken can be commercialized in connection with local tourism hubs, it will create new (foreign) tourism destinations and help revitalize rural areas."

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