Agriculture Minister Song Mi-ryung said Monday she would strongly recommend President Yoon Suk Yeol veto two bills on prices of rice and other farm goods if they are passed by the opposition-controlled National Assembly.

One of the bills is aimed at requiring the government to purchase excess rice when concerns of price fluctuations over rice loom. The other bill is designed to require the government to guarantee prices to farmers if their prices fall below certain levels.

At a press conference, Song described the two bills as “populism” that would undermine the “future of the farm industry.”

With the bills expected to be approved at the National Assembly next Tuesday, Song said she would “strongly suggest President (Yoon) exercise his right to reconsider.”

In a previous interview with Yonhap News Agency, Song said the government would need 3 trillion won (US$2.21 billion) annually to purchase and reserve rice if the revised grain act is implemented.

Source: Yonhap News Agency