The organization that led the farmers' rally on the 22nd with 13 tractors driven up to the president's residence in Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, is the Jeon Bong-jun Struggle Group, part of the Korean Peasants League. A man in his 30s, identified as Mr. A, who witnessed the scene, noted, “The Jeon Bong-jun Struggle Group has been advocating for the '12-point reform agenda,' reminiscent of the 12-point reform agenda demanded by the Donghak Peasant Movement in 1894.”
In preparation for this rally, the Jeon Bong-jun Struggle Group has publicly used signs inscribed with the '12-point reform agenda for realizing people's sovereignty and major social reforms.' The agenda includes ▲ the arrest of Yoon Suk-yeol ▲ the dissolution of the People Power Party ▲ and military and police reforms, among other issues related to recent investigations into martial law and rebellion charges.
However, it also included numerous unrelated items that drew attention. Regarding farmers and agriculture, they advocated for ▲ the unconditional application of the principle of agrarian land ownership by farmers, returning farmland to farmers ▲ the abolition of open agricultural policies ▲ and ensuring fair agricultural product prices to guarantee farmers' survival and dignity.
This agenda was deemed unrealistic to be accepted. Cho Dong-moon, an emeritus professor of economics at Myongji University, stated, “The government spends 1.4 trillion won annually on rice purchases. No country supports specific crop prices in this manner,” and added, “Does this mean the state should also purchase wheat and apples, and should the government be responsible for 100% employment of university students?”
The 12-point reform agenda of the Jeon Bong-jun Struggle Group also included items unrelated to farmers and agriculture, such as ▲ lowering the voting age to 16 ▲ eliminating unequal treaties and dependent diplomacy ▲ and abolishing minority discrimination and hatred.
A woman in her 30s, identified as Ms. B, remarked, “It doesn't seem apt for a farmers' organization to assert such points in the current situation following the recent martial law,” adding, “Drafting a reform agenda in a format similar to the Donghak Peasant Movement 130 years ago may appear anachronistic.”
Meanwhile, the Jeon Bong-jun Struggle Group also participated in the rally organized by the Korean Peasants League for 'rice price increase' and 'calling for President Yoon's resignation' held downtown in Seoul on the 20th of last month. The media reported scenes of some members wearing Jeon Bong-jun Struggle Group vests sitting on mats beside the rally area on the sidewalk, eating chicken and drinking soju.