Lee vows to reflect farmers' voices in decision on CPTPP membership

President Lee Jae Myung pledged on Wednesday to consider farmers' viewpoints when determining whether South Korea should join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). The president emphasized this commitment in a post on X, formerly Twitter, marking the 31st Day of Farmers. He reiterated his promise to factor farmers' interests into key decisions, such as farmland reform and the CPTPP, to support agricultural development.

Although the government has indicated that Korea's entry into the CPTPP is "unavoidable," Lee has assured that his administration will explore alternative strategies to mitigate potential negative impacts on the agricultural and fisheries sectors from increased market openness due to imports of lower-priced goods. The president has directed the government not to apply for CPTPP membership this year, underscoring the necessity for sufficient measures to shield farmers' welfare.