Preliminary Candidate Lee Seok-hyung Announces Pledges on Local Economy and Agriculture

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Seon-gang] Lee Seok-hyung, a preliminary candidate for the Democratic Party of Korea in Gwangsan-gap, Gwangju Metropolitan City, announced on the 24th the fourth of the O-gwang (Five Lights) series, pledging to revise or legislate related laws so that farmers, self-employed, and small business owners can engage in their livelihoods with peace of mind and focus on revitalizing the local economy.

Candidate Lee Seok-hyung stated, “To build a vibrant Gwangsan-gu, Gwangju, where the incomes of farmers, self-employed, and small business owners increase, I will shift the paradigm of agricultural policy and seek to improve the income and quality of life of farmers and foresters,” adding, “I will establish regional development strategies suited to local characteristics based on the value of cooperation and derive economic utilization of forests, which account for 63% of the national land, through sustainable forest management.”

He continued, “To create an economic and social environment where self-employed and small business owners can operate their businesses comfortably, I will expand the scope of protection for key money rights in commercial buildings by further revising the Commercial Building Lease Protection Act to protect commercial tenants, and introduce systems to prevent gentrification (a phenomenon where revitalization of deteriorated old downtown areas leads to the influx of middle-class or higher groups, replacing existing low-income original residents) and eviction compensation,” promising, “I will strengthen support for small-scale micro-businesses, support the installation of fire prevention facilities and expansion of parking lots in traditional markets, and support cooperation among small business owners and self-employed to maximize economic effects.”

In particular, he emphasized, “To supplement the government’s purchase price of rice, which is significantly lower compared to the inflation rate, I will realize an increase in the rice target price reflecting the inflation rate and expand the items subject to the rice production adjustment system,” adding, “I will do my best to adapt the Agricultural and Fishery Disaster Countermeasures Act, the standards for agricultural disaster insurance support, and the expansion of the public interest direct payment system to the local context.”

He concluded, “Alleyway commercial districts and agricultural and fishing villages are the foundation of the Korean economy, and it is important to create an environment where people can engage in their livelihoods with peace of mind,” stating, “I will actively work on regional development strategies suited to the characteristics of Gwangsan-gu through cooperation, revitalize alleyway commercial districts and agricultural and fishing villages, and focus on creating quality jobs where people can live with dignity.”