[2025 National Audit] Song Miryung: "Soybeans Not Subject to US Tariff Negotiations"

At the Comprehensive Audit of the National Assembly's Agriculture, Food, Rural Affairs, Oceans and Fisheries Committee

Song Miryung, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, stated on October 28 that "soybeans are not a subject of discussion in the Korea-US tariff negotiations."

Minister Song made this remark during a comprehensive audit of the National Assembly's Agriculture, Food, Rural Affairs, Oceans and Fisheries Committee, in response to Assemblyman Kang Myunggu of the People Power Party, who pointed out, "With recent trade friction between Korea and the US, there are growing concerns that the impact could spread to the soybean market."

Song Miryung, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (file photo). Photo by Kim Hyunmin

Assemblyman Kang said, "The government has set rice and beef as red lines that are non-negotiable items, but when the statements from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs differ, it inevitably causes anxiety in the agricultural sector. Was the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs excluded from the negotiation process?"

In response, Minister Song emphasized, "The government's position is clear that rice and beef are items for which further market opening is impossible. The statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs does not reflect the official position, and there have been no discussions about opening the market for agricultural and livestock products such as rice and beef."

Minister Song added, "It is impossible to adjust or increase the rice import quota, and there has never been such a discussion during negotiations with the US. Soybeans have also never been brought to the negotiation table, and the government's position on this matter remains consistent."