Farmers' groups held a rally on the 28th in front of the presidential office in Yongsan, Seoul, demanding that the government not open the agricultural and livestock product market further to the United States. As the government is negotiating to lower tariffs with the U.S., the possibility of opening the agricultural and livestock product market has prompted collective action.
The Korean Federation of Agricultural Associations, the Korean Comprehensive Agricultural Organizations Council, the Council of Livestock-Related Organizations, and Farmers' Road held a 'National Agriculture and Livestock Resolution Meeting' near the presidential office at 2 p.m. that day. According to unofficial police estimates, about 600 people participated in the rally.
Agricultural related organizations said that this resolution meeting was organized to express concerns that agricultural and livestock products might be compromised in recent negotiations with the U.S.
The government is making final adjustments ahead of the deadline for the U.S.-Korea tariff negotiations on the 1st of next month. It is reported that the negotiations include the additional opening of the agricultural product market. The presidential office previously stated on the 25th that 'agricultural products are included in the items under negotiation.' The government is known to have initially set rice and beef as essential items to protect, but the agricultural sector is concerned that these items could also end up on the negotiating table due to U.S. pressure.
Farmers' groups are worried that countries like Japan and Vietnam, which completed negotiations with the U.S. ahead of Korea, promised to open their agricultural and livestock product markets, and Korea could follow a similar path. Japan decided to maintain the existing rice import quantity of 770,000 tons while increasing the proportion of U.S. rice.
Normanho, the standing representative of the Korean Comprehensive Agricultural Organizations Council, said, 'We gathered to oppose the government's irresponsible negotiation attitude in yielding to President Trump's unilateral demands for additional development of the agricultural and livestock market,' and warned, 'If they are determined to break down the tariff barriers for agricultural and livestock products, we will launch a massive struggle.'
Lee Seung-ho, the president of the Korean Federation of Agricultural Associations, remarked, 'Approaching the opening of the rice and beef markets from a market logic and economic perspective directly contradicts food security,' and added, 'The government has emphasized responsible agricultural policies since its early days, but in reality, it is neglecting them.'
Hawon Oh, the standing representative of Farmers' Road, asserted, 'Vietnam promised complete opening but still maintains a 20% tariff, and Japan has promised investment worth 700 trillion won in agricultural products, yet the U.S. can raise tariffs at any time,' claiming, 'This is certainly a negotiation that cannot be win-win.'
At the rally, leaders of the representative farmers' organizations delivered a petition against the opening of agricultural and livestock products to officials at the presidential office. The organizations said, 'As recent 2+2 financial and trade ministerial talks have stalled, we will be closely monitoring the progress of negotiations with the U.S., and if the demands of farmers' groups are dismissed, we will carry out a large-scale additional farmers' uprising.'
The Agricultural and Fishing Food Transition Coalition held a press conference on the morning of that day in Gwanghwamun Square in Jongno-gu, Seoul, across from the U.S. Embassy, demanding an end to the U.S. tariff threats and coercion of agricultural and livestock product imports. The 'Trump Threat Prevention Joint Action' also held a press conference at the same location, declaring a '100-hour emergency action' with relay press conferences.