Agriculture and Food Minister Song Miryung Urges the Entire Agri-Food Industry to Actively Participate in Price Stabilization

Emergency Supply Stability Measures Meeting for Agriculture and Food Products

Song Miryeong, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, emphasized on the 14th, "To achieve sustainable production and consumption through stabilization of agricultural and food prices, all economic actors must join forces with the government."

Minister Song made these remarks while presiding over the 'Emergency Supply and Demand Stabilization Measures Meeting for Agricultural and Food Products' at the Government Complex Sejong that morning.

Song Mi-ryeong, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, is presiding over the 'Emergency Supply and Demand Stabilization Meeting for Agriculture and Food' at the Government Sejong Complex on the morning of the 14th.

At the meeting, Minister Song said, "This meeting was convened to seek active participation and cooperation from the entire agricultural and food industry for the prompt stabilization of agricultural and food prices. Today, I am personally presiding over this inspection meeting, which was previously led by the vice minister, to share the seriousness of the price situation with you and to listen to the field opinions and difficulties of the distribution and food industries."

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs is operating an emergency supply and demand stabilization task force led by the vice minister to quickly stabilize prices of agricultural and livestock products. It is implementing comprehensive measures including support for delivery prices of 13 fruits and vegetables, consumer price discount support, supply of stockpiled quantities, and allocation of tariff quota supplies. Additionally, the ministry is continuously holding field visits and meetings with distribution sites led by the minister and vice minister, gathering strength with producers' organizations, distribution industry, food industry, and consumer groups to stabilize grocery prices.

Minister Song stated, "In response to the government's efforts to stabilize prices, various economic actors are showing movements to participate in diverse ways. First, large supermarkets are promoting additional discounts linked to government discount support and are actively cooperating in lowering sales prices of items supported for delivery price assistance."

Furthermore, NongHyup is investing 20.2 billion KRW from its own budget in March and April to promote discount events on agricultural and livestock products involving nationwide Hanaro Mart stores. Livestock self-governing organizations are also continuously promoting discount events for Korean beef (Hanwoo), pork (Handon), and eggs using self-governing funds. At the Garak-dong wholesale market, distribution companies have independently decided to lower delivery prices for apples and green onions.

Minister Song said, "At meetings with food companies, most companies have pledged to refrain from price increases within the year to cooperate in price stabilization," and added, "The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs recognizes the seriousness of the recent agricultural and livestock product price situation and will mobilize all available resources and means to respond fully to stabilize prices."