Minister Song Mi-ryeong attends the Cabinet meeting held at the presidential office in Yongsan, Seoul, on the 24th. /Yonhap News

In the announcement of the first cabinet appointments of the Lee Jae-myung administration, which featured a multitude of politicians, the spotlight was undoubtedly on the reappointment of Minister Song Mi-ryeong of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.

As the lead on agricultural policy during the Yoon Suk-yeol administration, Minister Song not only blocked the Democratic Party of Korea's initiative for revising the Grain Management Act at the forefront but also faced the stigma of being labeled part of a 'conspiracy to insurrection' for attending the Cabinet meeting where former President Yoon decided to impose martial law. Therefore, she has continued her position in the new government.

◇ Excellent in discussions and proposing alternatives… “A prepared Cabinet member”

What lies behind President Lee Jae-myung's unusual personnel decision to retain Minister Song?

According to a comprehensive report from the presidential office and political circles on the 25th, Minister Song is said to have gained the president's trust for her excellent policy details and ability to propose alternatives. Even amid accusations of 'condoning insurrection,' she expressed sincere apologies in public settings, such as the National Assembly hearings after the martial law, stating, 'I regret becoming a Minister' and actively cooperated during the investigation process, earning recognition for her sincerity within the ruling party.

According to the presidential office, Minister Song reportedly showed a differentiated attitude from other ministers at the first Cabinet meeting of the new government. Unlike other ministers, who expected their terms to end with the launch of a new government and displayed passivity, she provided detailed explanations in response to President Lee's questions and briefed on major agricultural policy issues.

In particular, related to the price issue that President Lee raised as a critical topic after taking office, Minister Song is said to have led discussions by presenting specific figures. She explained to President Lee various issues, including the 'poultry import regional negotiation' with Brazil that the previous government was pursuing to stabilize chicken prices.

In this context, Kang Yu-jeong, spokesperson for the presidential office, noted on the 24th that 'at the first Cabinet meeting, (Cabinet members) mostly expressed their intention to resign, which led to many passive and vague responses.' She added, 'In contrast, I remember that Minister Song had quite specific answers to the president's questions and brought several proposals ready to reflect in the national agenda.' She further commented, '(The president's decision to retain Minister Song) must be based on the judgment that she is a competent and prepared sitting Cabinet member.'

In particular, it is said that the decisive influence on President Lee's judgment regarding Minister Song's retention was her explanation of alternatives to the 'Grain Act.'

During the Yoon Suk-yeol administration, the Democratic Party of Korea promoted a revision to the Grain Management Act, which mandated the government to purchase rice if the price fell below an acceptable level, passing the bill through the National Assembly. However, the bill was not enacted as former President Yoon exercised his veto.

Regarding this issue, President Lee posed questions to Minister Song, who proposed improved alternatives to the Democratic Party’s version. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Minister Song's proposals focused on adjusting cultivation areas, practical income preservation methods for farmers, and creating new demand to expand rice consumption. These proposals reportedly included plans from the previous government, such as reducing rice cultivation areas and expanding the '1000 won breakfast' project.

While there is a belief that the Grain Management Act needs to be revised to expand farmers' income and enhance food security, Minister Song has provided a clue that could resolve President Lee's concerns about the nation's finances. This aligns with the president's governance philosophy of steering state affairs through 'discussion' rather than 'command and follow' with ministers.

◇ Seven Cabinet members with backgrounds in politics… Seizing the 'strong candidate' Ahn Gi-gu

Minister Song's second strength, confirmed by her professional expertise and debating skills, was their reflection on her alleged involvement in insurrection.

On December 3 of last year, Minister Song attended the Cabinet meeting convened by President Yoon to declare martial law. On the morning of the 4th, while other ministers were reluctant to disclose their attendance at the Cabinet meeting to avoid controversy, Minister Song was the first to reveal her participation.

Minister Song Mi-ryeong. /News1

In subsequent National Assembly hearings, she publicly apologized, stating, 'If I had known about the martial law, I would not have attended the meeting,' and expressed regret over assuming the ministerial position. Although there were whispers in administrative circles regarding her statement about regretting the ministerial role, Minister Song maintained that she saw no change in her stance on the issue, asserting, 'I believe if there is legal responsibility, it must be taken.'

In political circles, there are evaluations that Minister Song actively cooperated during the investigation into the circumstances of the martial law and is 'not part of the insurrection collusion.'

Jeon Hyun-hee, a senior member of the Democratic Party of Korea, appeared on Kim Hyun-jung's news show on the 24th and said, '(Minister Song) was suspected of being an accomplice to the insurrection, but I understand that she cooperated in disclosing several circumstances regarding the Cabinet meeting at that time,' adding, 'I know she actively cooperated with investigative agencies regarding the Cabinet meeting's position and surrounding circumstances.'

The opposition within the party has not completely subsided. In particular, dissatisfaction is sensed among the ruling party members of the Agriculture, Food, Rural Affairs, Oceans, and Fisheries Committee, including Chairperson Ahn Gi-gu, who were regarded as strong candidates for the new government’s Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.

A Democratic Party member belonging to the Agriculture, Food, Rural Affairs, Oceans, and Fisheries Committee expressed in a conversation with ChosunBiz, 'How much we've fought over the Grain Management Act, and yet she was retained without a word from the Yongsan (presidential office),' adding, 'Honestly, it's a mental breakdown.'

As the backlash continued, Woo Sang-ho, the chief political secretary of the presidential office, met with the members of the Agriculture, Food, Rural Affairs, Oceans, and Fisheries Committee in the National Assembly on the morning of the 24th to explain the background of Minister Song's retention and to seek their understanding.

The background for Ahn Gi-gu, who was mentioned as a strong candidate for Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, losing out, is reportedly influenced by the inclusion of many politicians in the first cabinet of the new government. This gives Minister Song a third advantage.

As of the 25th, among the 12 Cabinet members announced by the Lee Jae-myung government, six are current lawmakers, including Kim Min-seok (Prime Minister), Jeong Dong-young (Minister of Unification), Ahn Gyu-baek (Minister of National Defense), Kim Seong-hwan (Minister of Environment), Jeon Jae-soo (Minister of Oceans and Fisheries), and Kang Seon-woo (Minister of Gender Equality and Family). Including Kwon Oh-eul, the candidate for the Ministry of Veterans Affairs, who is a former lawmaker, there are seven politicians. Given this situation, the consensus is that it was considerably burdensome to select a politician for the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.

A ruling party official stated, 'As president, having many politicians appointed could be burdensome,' noting, 'Minister Song, as an agricultural policy expert who worked for the Rural Economy Research Institute for 26 years, likely played a role in the appointment background due to her relatively low political color.'

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