The Korea Rural Economic Institute (KREI) hosted an issue forum on the New Government’s Policy Tasks for Safe Food in the Korea Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Seoul, June 28. In the event, KREI argued that food safety control by crackdowns and punishment is ineffective in reducing inappropriate agricultural products and removing the root causes of risks, so risk prevention in food production is important. Also, the Institute emphasized the necessity for the establishment of a food plan and integrated management, pointing out that policies implemented by each ministry had not comprehensively approached the food system, which had lowered their efficiency.
 

KREI research director Lee Kyeim made a presentation, “Five Policy Issues for Healthy Food Consumption.” Lee presented three policy goals—guarantee food for the people, create an environment for a healthy food culture, and build a system for sustainable agrifood consumption—for the new government under the vision, “guarantee a safe and healthy diet for the people,” and argued that the goals should be achieved with a focus on five policy tasks. The five tasks in the consumption sector are supplying balanced nutrition; guaranteeing food safety; securing food accessibility for the whole nation; strengthening food availability; and establishing a healthy diet.
 

In his presentation, “The Need for a National Food Plan and Policy Tasks,” KREI research director Choi Jihyeon said, “In Korea, despite a close connection among food policies, insufficient cooperation and coordination among ministries has led to limited comprehensive performance.” He stressed, "The establishment of a national food plan and integrated management are necessary from an integrated point of view on food because policy effects are difficult to increase only with each ministry’s efforts."