"Call to Recognize Jeonnam Rice Planthopper Damage as Disaster and Declare Special Disaster Area"

Governor Kim Young-rok Submits Petition Highlighting Farmers' Hardships
Jeonnam Provincial Assembly Agriculture and Fisheries Committee Issues "Government Measures" Statement

Jeonnam Governor Kim Young-rok is advocating for the recognition of the brown planthopper disaster and the declaration of the affected areas as special disaster zones at the provincial government briefing room on the afternoon of the 2nd.
[Photo by Jeollanam-do]

As the damage caused by rice planthoppers spreads in the Jeonnam region, voices are growing louder demanding the government to recognize it as a disaster and declare the affected areas as special disaster zones, urging the establishment of countermeasures.

On the afternoon of the 2nd, Jeonnam Governor Kim Young-rok announced a "Request for Recognition of Rice Planthopper Damage as a Disaster and Declaration of Special Disaster Zones" at the provincial government briefing room. Governor Kim stated, “This year, farmers are suffering greatly as agriculture has experienced 12 disasters due to unprecedented abnormal weather conditions such as lack of sunlight, heavy rains, and record-breaking heatwaves.”

He continued, “Although the province is mobilizing all administrative resources and investing 6.3 billion won in emergency control expenses for rice planthoppers to minimize the spread of damage, it was impossible to stop the expansion of rice planthopper damage,” diagnosing that “the explosive outbreak of rice planthoppers this year is due to the heatwave and abnormal high temperatures.”

The government announced that it would purchase rice damaged by rice planthoppers at a “provisional or other grade,” but it was also made clear that this is insufficient compensation for farmers suffering from triple hardships. Jeonnam Province has previously made a total of eight requests to the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, the National Assembly’s Agriculture, Forestry, Livestock, Food, and Fisheries Committee, and lawmakers from both ruling and opposition parties to recognize rice planthopper damage as a disaster and declare special disaster zones.

In the request, Governor Kim Young-rok proposed ▲ declaring special disaster zones including Haenam, Yeongam, Gangjin, and parts of Jangheung, where rice weakened by rice planthoppers suffered further damage due to heavy rains ▲ recognizing rice planthopper damage caused by heatwaves and high temperatures as a disaster, and conducting prompt damage surveys and providing restoration funds before the harvest season ▲ including abnormal high temperatures and pests and diseases caused by abnormal high temperatures within the scope of agricultural disasters.

Chairman Kim Moon-su of the Agriculture and Fisheries Committee of the Jeonnam Provincial Council and other council members are strongly urging the government to establish measures to address the damage caused by rice planthoppers.
[Photo by Jeonnam Provincial Council]

Earlier, the Jeonnam Provincial Council also issued a statement under the name of Agriculture and Fisheries Committee Chairman Kim Moon-soo, strongly demanding that “rice planthopper damage be immediately recognized as a natural disaster and damage surveys be conducted promptly.”

Chairman Kim said, “The government’s announcement of only a plan to purchase damaged rice while delaying practical disaster recognition and relief measures is an act of mocking farmers,” adding, “We will strongly respond until the government’s substantial support measures for farmers’ damage recovery are realized.”