On July 4th, in the Republic of Korea, peasants assembled outside the National Assembly to convene a National Congress. Their assembly aimed to address the critical situation in rural areas, advocating for national policy reforms to safeguard small-scale food producers amid climate crises, crop losses, rising input costs, and price volatility. The gathering attracted over 3,000 participants. The event saw tensions with law enforcement when attempts to bring farm machinery to the protest were obstructed, leading to physical altercations and injuries to a peasant. Arrests were also reported, including a young peasant leader.
The protesters criticized the government's policies on import tariff reductions, claiming these measures led to market instability and an influx of foreign agricultural products. They argued that such policies were detrimental to local agriculture and food production. Specific concerns were raised about the impact of these policies on commodity prices and the viability of domestic farming.
Representatives from various agricultural associations shared insights on the challenges faced by producers. For instance, Kim Chang-soo from the National Garlic Producers Association highlighted the adverse weather conditions affecting garlic production, leading to increased costs and reduced market prices. Nam Jong-woo from the National Onion Producers Association pointed out the unsustainable retail prices for onions and the negative effects of imported onions on domestic market prices.
Source: viacampesina.org