'200,000 Won Agricultural and Marine Products Gifts' Political Circle Requests, Government and Anti-Corruption Commission Reluctant

Ruling and Opposition Parties Demand Raising Chuseok Agricultural, Fishery, and Livestock Gift Value to 200,000 Won
Government and Anti-Corruption Commission Negative...Industry Expected to Oppose

Ahead of Chuseok, even opposition lawmakers from the Political Affairs Committee are expected to officially request the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission to raise the gift value limit for agricultural, fishery, and livestock products to 200,000 won. The intention is to increase the limit, currently set at 100,000 won under the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act, to revitalize the agriculture and livestock industries as well as small business owners. However, the government has expressed reluctance, making the realization uncertain.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

According to political circles on the 27th, ruling party lawmakers from the National Assembly’s Political Affairs Committee agreed the previous day to raise the gift value limit for agricultural, fishery, and livestock products to 200,000 won for this Chuseok. Following this, opposition lawmakers also agreed, and a bipartisan consensus is expected to be formed. Opposition lawmakers from the Political Affairs Committee held a separate meeting before the full committee meeting that morning to gather opinions. Kim Hee-gon, the secretary of the ruling party’s Political Affairs Committee, told Asia Economy, "It can be handled through bipartisan agreement. There is no reason to oppose it."

The day before, the Democratic Party decided to raise the gift value limit during the ‘Regular National Assembly Workshop’ subgroup discussions by committee and requested Chairman Jeon Hyun-hee of the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission to amend the enforcement decree of the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act. If the commission accepts this, the gift value limit for this Chuseok will be temporarily adjusted to 200,000 won, as was the case for last year’s Chuseok and this year’s Lunar New Year.

However, the government is leaning toward not raising the limit. This issue was omitted from the ‘Chuseok Livelihood Stabilization Measures’ jointly announced by related ministries on the 26th. Last year, the government officially confirmed the policy to raise the gift value limit through the livelihood stabilization measures announced ahead of Chuseok.

The Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission has also publicly indicated a ‘no’ stance. Chairman Jeon recently said in a radio interview, "Most members of the plenary committee pointed out that the purpose of the law could be undermined," adding, "There was an opinion that it is better to stimulate consumption through other means." Rather than raising the gift value limit, it is preferable to increase purchasing power through national support funds (disaster relief funds), mutual consumption support funds (card cashback), and discount coupon issuance.

In response to the negative opinions from the government and the commission, the agriculture and livestock industries are strongly opposing. About 30 organizations, including the Korea Federation of Agricultural Management Associations, have issued an official stance not only to raise the limit regularly but also to completely exclude agricultural, fishery, and livestock products from the targets of solicitation and gifts defined by the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act. Choi Seung-jae, chairman of the People Power Party’s Small Business Committee, who demanded the increase in the gift value limit together with 37 opposition lawmakers the previous day, also criticized the desk-bound administration for harming small business owners. Chairman Choi said in a phone interview, "The gift value limit was raised to 200,000 won last Chuseok and this Lunar New Year, but the current economy is in a more serious situation," adding, "Opposing it on the grounds that it might undermine the purpose of the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act is illogical."