The Korea Rural Economic Institute (KREI) invited 19 people including heads of farmers’ organizations in the front lines of the agricultural scene, and held a rural village research advisory group meeting on April 14 at the institute’s main conference room.

At the meeting, KREI President Choi Sei-kyun said, “Our agriculture and rural villages have many pending issues such as AI, vegetable supply and demand, the Korea-China FTA, and rice tariffication,” and asked the participants to give diverse opinions and ideas about KREI’s present or future research from the viewpoint of the agricultural scene. Next, Planning & Coordination Office Director Song Mi-ryung made a presentation about the institute’s present situation, 2014’s major research projects, and the 2015 research project plan.

At the conference, various questions and opinions were presented from the agricultural scene. The attendees were especially interested in the progress of TPP negotiations, the Korea-China FTA, the tax system, the issue of returning to farming or rural villages, and farming successors, and many questions and answers regarding the issues went back and forth.

Korea Advanced Farmers Association President Yun Cheon-young asked the institute to “do fairer research from the professional organization’s viewpoint.” Hanwoo Association President Lee Kang-u requested that KREI study more detailed countermeasures against FTAs. The institute will continue to cooperate with farmers’ organizations actively and closely, and will reflect the opinions presented at the meeting in future research.