The government and ruling bloc, which have been pushing Nonghyup reforms including a direct election system for the chairman of the National Agricultural Cooperative Federation (Nonghyup), are taking a pause. Rather than forcing through reform legislation that has faced fierce backlash from local cooperative heads nationwide, they plan to reassess and refine the contested issues through a public hearing.
According to political sources on Thursday, the National Assembly's Agriculture, Food, Rural Affairs, Oceans and Fisheries Committee will hold a legislative public hearing on the proposed amendment to the Agricultural Cooperatives Act on the 7th of this month. The hearing was arranged after the Democratic Party accepted the People Power Party's argument that expert and stakeholder opinions should be sufficiently gathered during the legislative process for Nonghyup reform measures, which include introducing a direct election for the Nonghyup chairman and establishing an external audit body.
Notably, calls to slow the pace are also emerging within the Democratic Party ahead of the June 3 local elections. The shift is seen as a response to field concerns that selecting the Nonghyup chairman through a vote of all 1.87 million cooperative members nationwide could sharply increase election costs and lead to cuts in support programs for farmers.
"While moving toward a direct election system is desirable for rooting out corruption at Nonghyup, without safeguards it could trigger other side effects, so careful design is needed," a ruling party lawmaker on the committee said. "The legislative process is about accepting and refining reasonable alternatives when they arise."
As a result, introducing an electoral college system instead of a direct election is expected to be considered as a compromise. Rep. Moon Geum-joo, chair of the Democratic Party's National Farmers and Fishermen Committee, has proposed an amendment to the Agricultural Cooperatives Act centered on electing the Nonghyup chairman through a separate body composed of cooperative heads and delegates. The government remains committed to pursuing Nonghyup reform as originally drafted, making coordination between the ruling party and the government unavoidable. "The government is not considering any alternative other than a direct election by cooperative members," a Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs official said. "We are aware that lawmakers hold differing views, but we will continue to work to persuade them."
