US Says "Rice Market Opening"... Presidential Office: "US Misunderstood, No Expansion of Market Opening"

Kang Yujeong: "Our Position Is That There Will Be No Further Market Opening"

Kang Yujeong, spokesperson for the Presidential Office, is answering reporters' questions after concluding a briefing on current issues at the Presidential Office building in Yongsan, Seoul, on the 27th of last month. Photo by Yonhap News

On August 1, the Presidential Office stated, regarding the results of tariff negotiations with the United States and the possibility raised by the US side of opening the rice market, "There will be no further expansion of market opening."

Kang Yujeong, spokesperson for the Presidential Office, said during a briefing that day, "We have already opened 99.7% of our agricultural and livestock markets, and our position is that there will be no further opening of the remaining 0.3%. This is our official stance, and it is correct."

She added, "There may be some changes, such as making inspection or quarantine procedures easier for specific items, but in terms of the overall volume (being opened), nothing will be added," and further commented, "Perhaps there was a slight misunderstanding on the part of the US."

When asked whether there is a possibility that market opening could be expanded even through eased quarantine procedures, she responded, "There is still room for coordination and negotiation regarding specific items," but emphasized, "We will not expand the scope of opening for rice or agricultural and livestock products."

She further explained, "It may be the case that the two sides (Korea and the US) had different understandings regarding the detailed requirements."

The previous day, Kim Yongbeom, Policy Chief of the Presidential Office, also stated, "It has been agreed that there will be no additional opening of the domestic rice and beef markets."

Previously, on July 31 (local time), White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said at a White House briefing, "In exchange for lowering reciprocal tariffs and automobile tariffs to 15%, Korea has agreed to open its market to US products such as automobiles and rice."