Minister Song Mi-ryeong to Attend Party-Government Policy Consultation
and Explain Key Policies
The Democratic Party of Korea has launched a drive to pass the so-called "Four Agricultural Laws"?the Grain Management Act, the Agricultural Products Price Stabilization Act, the Agricultural and Fishery Disaster Protection Act, and the Agricultural and Fishery Disaster Countermeasures Act?before the end of the June regular session of the National Assembly.
On the afternoon of June 27, members of the Democratic Party's Agriculture, Food, Rural Affairs, Oceans and Fisheries Committee are scheduled to hold a policy consultation meeting with the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs at the National Assembly Members' Office Building to discuss the advancement of the Four Agricultural Laws.
The Four Agricultural Laws include provisions to guarantee minimum prices for agricultural products, mandate the compulsory isolation of surplus rice production, and enhance the rationality of disaster countermeasures and disaster insurance. These measures are aimed at strengthening the government's responsibility and role in agricultural policy.
During the previous Yoon Suk-yeol administration, former President Yoon Suk-yeol and Acting President and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo exercised their right to request reconsideration (veto) of the Four Agricultural Laws, including the Grain Management Act. They argued that these laws would distort market functions, raise concerns about oversupply of certain items such as rice, and result in a significant fiscal burden.
In contrast, the Democratic Party plans to use the launch of the Lee Jae-myung administration and the upcoming policy consultation meeting as an opportunity to once again secure momentum for passing the Four Agricultural Laws in a plenary session. Previously, Jin Sung-joon, the Democratic Party's Policy Committee Chair, mentioned at a press briefing the day before that the party aims to pass the Four Agricultural Laws as key legislation before the end of the June extraordinary session (July 4).
Song Mi-ryeong, who has been retained as Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs under the new administration, is expected to attend the meeting in person to explain the main legislative and policy tasks related to the Four Agricultural Laws, as well as the Lee Jae-myung administration's agricultural policies.
The Democratic Party plans to closely observe any changes in Minister Song's stance. On June 25, during a full session of the Agriculture, Food, Rural Affairs, Oceans and Fisheries Committee, Minister Song stated, "Flexible pragmatism, government responsibility in agricultural policy, and providing food for the people are the main principles. In line with the government's philosophy, I will proactively review bills and policies that have been contentious so far."
However, there remains a prevailing sense of mistrust, as Minister Song was the one who, during the Yoon Suk-yeol administration, referred to the Four Agricultural Laws as the "Four Laws that Ruin Agriculture" and recommended that former President Yoon exercise his veto power.
Kim Hyun-jung, the Democratic Party's floor spokesperson, told reporters after a closed-door floor strategy meeting at the National Assembly the previous day, "With Minister Song remaining in office, the controversies that have arisen must be resolved by Minister Song."
A Democratic Party lawmaker on the Agriculture, Food, Rural Affairs, Oceans and Fisheries Committee told Asia Economy in a phone interview that, since this is the first policy consultation meeting, "We want to hear what determination Minister Song has and how she intends to implement policy."
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