10 Agricultural Policy Issues of Korea in 2019

Abstract

The Korea Rural Economic Institute selected 10 agricultural policy issues of Korea in 2019 as follows, considering the basic frame that agricultural policy should pursue and the issues that need to be solved urgently and reflecting opinions of farmers, experts in agriculture and rural areas, and journalists. ① Reorganizing the direct payment program to strengthen the public role • Reorganize the direct payment program to strengthen the public role of agriculture and rural areas, and not to be connected to production. • A program is required for stabilized management of rice farmers if the variable direct payment program for rice is switched to a fixed direct payment program. ② Creating and increasing jobs in agriculture and rural areas• Jobs in agriculture are expected to continue to increase. • Build job ecosystem platforms in central-provincial-county units, and implement policies for creating participation-type jobs.③ Creating smart farm innovation valleys and implementing a smart agricultural industry for innovative growth • Create successful smart farm innovation valleys as innovative growth engines in the agricultural industry. • Implement smart operation across the agri-food industry. ④ Increasing use of renewable energy through energy-independent villages in rural areas• Promote energy-independent villages by organizing rural-type energy cooperatives operated by residents to achieve the goal of ‘Renewable Energy 3020’ of the central government. ⑤ Building regional circular food systems to promote the Food Plan• Establish national food strategies for comprehensively planning the entire process of food production, processing, distribution and consumption, and build regional circular food systems. ⑥ Enhancing safety in production of agricultural and livestock products• Develop a strategy for early settlement of PLS and minimized damage to farmers. • Improve regulations for supplying safe livestock products, and consider the effect of strengthening regulations. ⑦ Improving the quality of rural life by expanding SOC for residents• Although policies for improving farmers’ quality of life are enforced, the effect of improving living services in rural areas is limited. • Strengthen policies for improving the quality of life in connection with expansion of SOC for residents in rural areas. ⑧ Building new agricultural policy governance with the establishment of the Special Committee for Agriculture, Fisheries and Rural Areas• Ensure the representativeness of the committee and organize a capable executive office. • Select agendas for creating outcomes through intensive discussion and establish strategies. ⑨ Preparing for resuming agricultural cooperation between South and North Korea with the progress of denuclearization talks• Plan and implement programs for step-by-step inter-Korean agricultural cooperation to prepare for the progress of denuclearization talks among South and North Korea and the US, and the age of peace. ⑩ Responding to changes in the global trade environment • The US will continue to lead changes in global trade order. • Proactively respond to global trade environment changes centered around multilateral cooperation, e.g., CPTPP and RCEP.