Park Jiwon: "Worried About Plunging Cabbage Prices"... President Lee: "Will Actively Seek Measures"

“Cabbage” raised as a topic for the second consecutive year in the plenary chamber immediately after the policy address
Minister Song Miryeong offers positive message: “There will be good news soon”

Rep. Park Jiwon of the Democratic Party of Korea, who represents Haenam, Wando and Jindo in South Jeolla Province, said President Lee Jaemyung responded to concerns over the steep drop in prices for Haenam cabbage, which is at risk of being discarded at the farms where it is grown, by saying, "I will come up with measures."

According to Rep. Park on November 2, President Lee met with him immediately after his policy address to the National Assembly this year, as he did last year. For the second year in a row, the president brought up "Haenam cabbage," showing particular interest in local issues.

President Lee Jaemyung showed interest in local issues, bringing up Haenam cabbage in a meeting with Rep. Park Jiwon right after his policy address to the National Assembly. Photo provided by Rep. Park Jiwon's office.

After delivering his address that day, President Lee encountered Rep. Park in the National Assembly plenary chamber and warmly remarked, "It's nice to see you sporting that cabbage-head look." Rep. Park replied, "Actually, Haenam cabbage is giving me a headache. Prices have already plunged even though the cabbage hasn't fully grown yet, and I'm very worried." He candidly conveyed the urgent difficulties facing local farmers as the harvest season approaches.

In response to Rep. Park's appeal, President Lee immediately said, "I will come up with measures." After last year's policy address, the president had also shown interest, asking Rep. Park, "Is Haenam cabbage selling well?"

After speaking with the president, Rep. Park also met with Song Miryeong, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, and again conveyed the crisis facing cabbage farmers, urging the ministry responsible to respond promptly. Minister Song replied, "The government is also assessing the situation and working on measures, and there will be good news soon."

Rep. Park is currently continuing concrete working-level discussions with the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, based on requests concerning cabbage that he gathered from Lee Mujin, head of the Haenam Farmers Association, and the heads of local agricultural cooperatives.

Rep. Park said, "This is an issue we are continuing to discuss with the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, and we should soon be able to report the outcome to farmers." He added, "No matter what difficulties arise, I will do my utmost to ease the hardships faced by farm households in all three counties of Haenam, Wando and Jindo, including cabbage growers."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.