Lee Manhee, a member of the People Power Party representing Yeongcheon and Cheongdo in North Gyeongsang Province, announced on August 1 that he had received the Agricultural Development Innovation Award from the National Agricultural Cooperative Federation (NongHyup). Lee Manhee is the first National Assembly member to be honored with this award.
Since 2003, the National Agricultural Cooperative Federation has selected and awarded local government heads who have actively promoted agricultural policies for the development of agriculture and rural communities, as well as for increasing farmers' incomes and improving their quality of life. Starting this year, the federation established the 'Agricultural Development Innovation Award for Agricultural Policy Innovation,' selecting National Assembly members and heads of metropolitan governments who have contributed to increasing agricultural income and advancing agriculture and rural communities through innovative agricultural support policies.
Lee Manhee, a member of the People Power Party who received the Agricultural Innovation Award from the National Agricultural Cooperative Federation, is giving a speech.
Lee Manhee received the award plaque as the first National Assembly member to be recognized for his efforts to enhance the status of farmers and the value of agriculture. At the award ceremony, Lee Manhee was honored alongside Eo Gigu, Chair of the National Assembly's Agriculture, Food, Rural Affairs, Oceans and Fisheries Committee, Lee Yangsoo, Seo Samseok, as well as Kim Taeheum, Governor of South Chungcheong Province, and Kim Youngrok, Governor of South Jeolla Province.
Since entering the 20th National Assembly, Lee Manhee has focused his activities on the Agriculture, Food, Rural Affairs, Oceans and Fisheries Committee. He has been recognized for his sharp critiques and practical alternatives during parliamentary audits, as well as for actively hosting policy forums and leading various agricultural policy issues.
In fact, Lee Manhee has served as a secretary in key standing committees such as the Agriculture, Food, Rural Affairs, Oceans and Fisheries Committee, the Public Administration and Security Committee, and the Special Committee on Budget and Accounts. He is currently serving as a member of the Agriculture, Food, Rural Affairs, Oceans and Fisheries Committee. He has made multifaceted efforts, including policy inquiries and securing budget allocations, to bring about practical improvements in areas such as the public direct payment system, promotion of mechanization in dry-field farming, and crop disaster insurance.
Recently, in the 22nd National Assembly, Lee Manhee has drawn attention for his 'two-track' approach of closely linking policy and legislation to the realities of agriculture. He has introduced a total of 83 bills, including the 'Trade Agreement Act' aimed at reflecting the voices of the agricultural sector in trade agreement negotiations such as the Korea-US trade talks; the 'Hometown Love Donation Act' and the 'Restriction of Special Taxation Act' to address local extinction; and the 'Farmland Act,' which has been criticized for becoming a regulation on farmland transactions rather than a measure to curb speculative forces.
Lee Manhee stated, "I am honored and feel a heavy sense of responsibility to be the first National Assembly member to receive the Agricultural Innovation Award," and added, "This was made possible thanks to the unwavering support and encouragement from the 2.3 million respected farmers, as well as the citizens of Yeongcheon and Cheongdo who attended the ceremony despite their busy schedules."
He continued, "Today, rural Korea faces enormous challenges such as market opening pressures on agricultural and livestock products, the climate crisis, and population aging," and pledged, "I will continue to do my utmost in policy and legislative efforts for the sustainable development of our beloved agriculture and rural communities, as well as for the prosperity of Yeongcheon, Cheongdo, North Gyeongsang Province, and ultimately the Republic of Korea."
Meanwhile, Lee Manhee has been recognized for his expertise in the fields of agriculture, forestry, livestock, and fisheries, having received the 'National Assembly Legislative Activity Award' twice in a row from the Korean Advanced Farmers Federation, the largest farmers' organization in Korea. He has also been named an outstanding lawmaker by Korean Agricultural Policy Newspaper and the Korea Federation of Fisheries Businessmen, among others.
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