Agriculture, Food, and Fisheries Committee Debate Over Grain Management Act... Ruling Party "Regret Unilateral Progress", Opposition "Don't Mislead the Public" [2022 Audit]

Minister Jeong Hwang-geun Clashes During Confirmation Hearing

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jun-yi] At the National Assembly Agriculture, Forestry, Livestock, Food, and Maritime Affairs Committee's audit held on the 4th, lawmakers from both ruling and opposition parties clashed over the amendment to the Grain Management Act, which mandates rice market isolation, and the process of selecting the chairman of the Agenda Coordination Committee.

Opposition lawmakers criticized Kim Dae-gi, the Presidential Chief of Staff, for his remarks at the 5th High-level Party-Government Council the previous day, targeting the Grain Management Act amendment, stating, "In 2011, Thailand pursued a similar policy, which led to an oversupply of rice and fiscal collapse, causing the economy to be ruined."

Democratic Party lawmaker Yoon Jun-byeong questioned Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Minister Jeong Hwang-geun, asking, "Are you aware that Presidential Chief of Staff Kim Dae-gi made an absurd statement regarding the Grain Management Act, saying that in 2011 Thailand pursued a similar policy that resulted in an oversupply of rice and fiscal collapse, ruining the national economy?"

Minister Jeong responded, "I understand that the administration at that time collapsed," adding, "He emphasized that if the market is excessively distorted, the side effects are too severe."

So Byeong-hoon, a Democratic Party lawmaker and chairman of the Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Committee, also said, "I hope the minister clearly explains how Thailand at that time differs from the Republic of Korea now, how the purchase volumes and prices differ, how Thai farmers acted afterward regarding that system, and what Korean farmers think."

Lee Yang-su of the People Power Party said, "The Chief of Staff did not make that statement out of ignorance of the differences between Thailand and our country. The Thai case was fully reviewed by the Chief of Staff and is publicly available in domestic media," adding, "It is risky to assume unconditionally that the Chief of Staff spoke without any knowledge."

However, Democratic Party lawmaker Wi Seong-gon pointed out, "The Chief of Staff clearly stated that he would block the Grain Management Act amendment, which all citizens must prevent," and criticized, "The example of Thailand is incorrect. I believe the reality is that the public is being misled based on completely different facts."

The ruling and opposition parties also clashed over the election of the chairman of the Agenda Coordination Committee, which took place without the attendance of People Power Party lawmakers the previous day. The Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Committee elected lawmaker Yoon Mi-hyang, an independent, as chairman of the Agenda Coordination Committee at a meeting attended only by Democratic Party lawmakers Shin Jeong-hoon, Yoon Jun-byeong, Lee Won-taek, and independent Yoon Mi-hyang.

In response, Lee Yang-su of the People Power Party said, "It can only be seen as ignoring the People Power Party, which previously proposed the need to explain the process by which the Grain Management Act amendment came to the Agenda Coordination Committee and to collect opinions from farmers' organizations," adding, "Since the Democratic Party had a precedent of 'rushing through' the Grain Management Act at the last bill subcommittee, we suggested caution in electing the chairman of the Agenda Coordination Committee, so I express regret over this unilateral action."

Park Deok-heum of the People Power Party also criticized, "The opposition must express regret over the continuous, unilateral, and non-consensual progress of the Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Committee in this manner."