The government is reviewing plans to relocate the Gwacheon racetrack to another location within Gyeonggi Province.
Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Song Mi-ryeong said at a press briefing at the Sejong Government Complex on the 9th, "We are reviewing relocation to another area within Gyeonggi Province through sufficient consultation with the Korea Racing Authority."
The possibility of relocating the Gwacheon racetrack surfaced after the government's recently announced housing supply policy included Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province as a development site. The government announced plans to supply approximately 60,000 housing units primarily targeting young people and newlyweds. The government plan includes relocating both the Gwacheon Defense Security Command site (280,000 ㎡) and the racetrack site (1.15 million ㎡), with integrated development to supply 9,800 housing units. However, continued opposition from Gwacheon residents and concerns raised by the Korea Racing Authority labor union suggest difficulties ahead before relocation plans are finalized.
Minister Song stated, "I also expressed at the ministerial meeting that the Racing Authority's opinions must be respected," adding, "From the government's perspective, both the horse industry and the Racing Authority employees and local community are all important, so we will communicate sufficiently." She continued, "Policy must be pursued by gathering opinions from various stakeholders including the Ministry of Agriculture, the Racing Authority, Gyeonggi Province, and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport," adding, "We will work to achieve results."
Regarding recent rice price increases, Minister Song said, "It hasn't doubled like in Japan; it's about 15% higher compared to the same period last year," adding, "We will work to find a balance where consumers don't feel burdened and producers can manage."
On the sugar levy mentioned recently by President Lee Jae-myung, she explained, "The National Health Promotion Act amendment currently proposed in the National Assembly would introduce a sugar levy only on sweetened beverages," adding, "We assess that the impact on prices will be limited and the effect on domestic farms will also not be significant."
Regarding U.S.-Korea tariff negotiations and the possibility of discussions on non-tariff barriers such as further agricultural market opening, Minister Song said, "It will not go beyond the scope of the joint fact sheet agreed upon by both countries last November."
On agricultural cooperative reform, she said audit results and reform measures would be announced as early as the end of this month.