Presidential Office on Grain Act: "Public Opinion Gathered"... Yoon Likely to Exercise Veto on 4th

Presidential Office: "More than 30 Statements from Relevant Ministers, Prime Minister, and Farmer Organizations"

The Presidential Office stated regarding President Yoon Seok-yeol's exercise of the veto power on the amendment to the Grain Management Act and its timing, "Once public opinion has somewhat gathered, we believe it will be handled within an appropriate timeframe." This is interpreted as President Yoon likely exercising his veto on the Grain Management Act amendment soon.

A key official from the Presidential Office, when asked by reporters at the Yongsan Presidential Office on the afternoon of the 2nd about the possibility of vetoing the Grain Management Act amendment at the Cabinet meeting on the 4th, said, "The two relevant ministers and the Prime Minister have expressed their positions, and more than 30 farmers' organizations have also stated their views, so we believe public opinion has been sufficiently gathered."

The official added, "Physically, both the 4th and the 11th are possible."

Earlier, the Democratic Party of Korea passed an amendment to the Grain Management Act at the plenary session on the 23rd, which requires the government to compulsorily purchase all excess rice production if the surplus exceeds 3-5% compared to rice demand or if the rice price during the harvest season falls by 5-8% compared to the average year.

In response, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance Choo Kyung-ho and Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Jeong Hang-keun, at the Cabinet meeting held on the 28th of last month, effectively recommended President Yoon exercise his veto, stating it was very regrettable that the Grain Management Act, which causes imbalance by deepening the rice oversupply structure and fairness issues with other varieties, was unilaterally passed by the National Assembly plenary session.

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo also pointed out the problems of the Grain Management Act amendment in detail in a public address the following day and requested President Yoon to exercise his veto power.