Dispute Over Resolution Urging Withdrawal of Rice Cultivation Area Adjustment System
Civic Group Criticizes: "It Is Pathetic to Turn This Into Political Strife Without Communication"
There is growing criticism that members of the Cheonan City Council in South Chungcheong Province are engaging in political strife without even verifying basic facts.
On the 14th, during the second plenary session of the 278th temporary meeting, the Cheonan City Council saw both the ruling and opposition parties hold press conferences and exchange blame over the fact that a resolution urging the withdrawal of the rice cultivation area adjustment system was not put on the agenda.
However, according to Asia Economy’s coverage on the 21st, the failure to table the resolution was simply a farce, with council members demanding apologies from each other without properly checking the facts.
In chronological order, on the 11th, the council’s Steering Committee held discussions between the floor leaders of both parties regarding whether to table the resolution.
The Democratic Party confirmed its support, while the People Power Party confirmed its opposition. They agreed not to table the resolution at the plenary session, and after the meeting, only the Democratic Party would gather separately to urge the withdrawal of the rice cultivation area adjustment system.
Accordingly, Steering Committee Chairman Bae Seongmin reported to Chairperson Kim Haenggeum that there were differences of opinion between the parties, and Chairperson Kim initially decided to table the resolution at the plenary session.
However, on the 14th, the day of the second plenary session, Chairperson Kim reversed this decision after consulting with People Power Party members and decided not to table the resolution.
However, since this reversal happened just before the plenary session, the details were not sufficiently communicated to the council members.
Democratic Party members expected a vote on the resolution, but when it was not addressed at the plenary session, they strongly protested.
On the 17th, they held a press conference at the city hall briefing room, criticizing the failure to table the resolution without a motion for change and claiming this was adopted as a party position, urging, "Apologize sincerely to the farmers."
People Power Party members also held an emergency press conference at the city hall briefing room on the 21st, stating, "Even though the floor leaders had reached an agreement, the Democratic Party suddenly held a press conference," and countered, "We did not decide not to table the resolution as a party position."
They further criticized, "Vice Chairperson Ryu Jeguk, the main sponsor of the resolution, did not attend to explain the proposal. If this resolution was truly for the farmers and so urgent, he should have attended the Steering Committee and persuaded the members."
A local civic group representative commented, "A single phone call between the parties could have confirmed this was a simple error," and criticized, "It is truly pathetic to see them turn this into a political dispute without understanding the situation or communicating."
They added, "This situation shows that cooperation is only lip service and communication is lacking. I hope they will work for the citizens rather than for their parties or political strife."
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