President Lee Jae-myung stated on October 26 that despite some criticism, South Korea must pursue membership in the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) to advance to the next stage. While reaffirming the decision to delay the membership application until the end of the year to ensure thorough communication with farmers, he emphasized the need to prepare for expanding the economic territory, even if it incurs backlash from the agricultural sector.
During a dialogue with farmers at the Blue House, President Lee noted, "Even if we apply for membership in the CPTPP, we must obtain individual consent from the 12 member countries," adding, "It is highly likely that a final agreement will not be reached during my term."
Earlier, on October 8, he instructed not to submit the membership application this year, emphasizing the importance of restoring trust and ensuring adequate communication with farmers. In a meeting with reporters on October 19, he reiterated the necessity of expanding economic territory and promised to address concerns raised by farmers' groups. His remarks reflect an acknowledgment that reaching a final agreement within his term may be challenging, yet he remains committed to preparing for membership despite potential criticism.
However, he stressed that the process of expanding trade should not impose unilateral sacrifices on the agricultural sector. President Lee highlighted the importance of expanding global export markets as an open trading nation, stating, "We cannot survive solely on semiconductors, nor can we survive solely on agriculture." He emphasized the coexistence of agriculture and export industries.
He further stated, "We should not impose losses and damages simply because a group is small or lacks power. If special sacrifices are made, there must be corresponding special compensation; that is the normal and ideal society."
President Lee also addressed the unfulfilled promise of establishing a 1 trillion won fund for rural cooperation. He urged the government to restore trust by fulfilling its obligations to compensate for losses incurred from policy implementations.
Responding to concerns from attendees regarding the comprehensive farmland survey, he acknowledged, "I understand there are misunderstandings and concerns regarding the farmland survey, regardless of the original intent of government policy."
He noted that the government's efforts might differ from the issues farmers experience, promising, "Today, I will listen to as many of your comments as possible and ensure they are adequately reflected in our policies."
President Lee defined the agricultural and fisheries sectors not just from a comparative advantage perspective but as a strategic matter concerning the survival of South Korea. He acknowledged challenges such as falling product prices, stagnant incomes, climate change, and aging populations, pledging to do his utmost to prevent unexpected damages to those in agriculture and related industries.
Regarding the policy decision-making process, he stated that discussions and consultations should be maximized, but ultimately, areas where consensus cannot be reached must be decided by those in authority. He emphasized, "Authority must come with responsibility," and expressed his commitment to narrowing differences and finding adequate solutions.
Over 110 participants from the agricultural and fisheries sectors attended the meeting, along with Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Song Mi-ryung and Minister of Oceans and Fisheries Hwang Jong-woo. The Blue House noted that this was the first time since 2018 that the president held a direct meeting with a large number of farmers. The event was conducted in three sessions covering farmland surveys, CPTPP, and other agricultural issues.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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