National Assembly fails to pass rice bill again after Yoon's veto
![Lawmakers vote on a bill that would require the government to purchase surplus rice which was resubmitted to the parliament after being vetoed by President Yoon Suk Yeol earlier this month at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul on Thursday. [NEWS1]](https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/data/photo/2023/04/13/53c928b8-c851-4283-bffd-716e65b9ed26.jpg)
Lawmakers vote on a bill that would require the government to purchase surplus rice which was resubmitted to the parliament after being vetoed by President Yoon Suk Yeol earlier this month at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul on Thursday. [NEWS1]
The National Assembly failed Thursday to pass a controversial bill that would require the government to purchase surplus rice, which was resubmitted to the parliament after being vetoed by President Yoon Suk Yeol earlier this month.
There were 177 in favor of the bill and 112 against, with one invalid vote.
The National Assembly is controlled by the liberal Democratic Party (DP), who holds a parliamentary majority of 169 out of the 299 seats.
Once a vetoed bill is returned to the National Assembly, it must be approved by two-thirds of lawmakers present, with a quorum being filled, for it to pass again.
On March 23, the DP-controlled National Assembly railroaded an amendment to the Grain Management Act that requires the government to purchase excess rice from local farms when rice production exceeds 3 percent of estimated consumption, or when the price drops more than 5 to 8 percent compared to the previous year.
In a Cabinet meeting on April 4, Yoon rejected the legislation, exercising his first veto of a bill since he took office in May 2022. It marked the first such veto by a president in seven years.
Yoon asked the National Assembly to reconsider the bill.
The conservative People Power Party (PPP) has been opposed to the bill, arguing that it could place an excessive burden on state coffers, encourage the overproduction of rice and undermine agricultural competitiveness.
The DP said the bill can protect farmers and stabilize rice prices.
Earlier Thursday, the DP submitted a request for the revised bill to be tabled at a parliamentary plenary session for a revote, which passed.
BY SARAH KIM [kim.sarah@joongang.co.kr]
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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