Farmland Reform and CPTPP Must Put Farmers First

President Lee Jae Myung said on the 11th that, marking the 31st Farmers' Day, the government will incorporate voices from the field into its policies on key issues such as farmland reform, agricultural cooperative reform, and the CPTPP (a trade agreement joining countries across the Asia-Pacific region), so that they deliver tangible benefits to farmers.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter) that day titled "The hearty meals that built today's South Korea are thanks to our farmers," the president wrote, "I extend my deep gratitude and respect to farmers across the country, who have quietly tilled the land and safeguarded the nation's food supply even under difficult conditions." President Lee reflected that thanks to farmers who have protected the nation's dinner tables amid industrialization and urbanization, the country has been able to weather challenging times.

"The government of national sovereignty is strengthening the state's responsibility for agriculture," President Lee said, explaining that it passed agricultural livelihood bills that had been vetoed by the previous administration and is working to normalize rice prices. He added that the government has also introduced rural basic income and 'sunlight income' village policies to broaden income bases in farming communities.