On the 23rd, onion-producing farmers from across the country held a rally at the Garak Market, a comprehensive wholesale market for agricultural and fishery products. They argued that the government should not open the agricultural market to lower the reciprocal tariff of 25% proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump. They also demanded the replacement of Yeo Han-koo, Head of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy's Trade Negotiation Headquarters.
The National Onion Producers Association held a national onion producers' meeting near Garak Market in Songpa, Seoul, at 4 p.m. that day, with approximately 200 participants based on police unofficial estimates.
Nam Jong-woo, chairman of the Onion Producers Association, said, "The government needs to make strategic judgments (while negotiating tariffs with the U.S.), as they are publicly stating their intention to open agriculture further." He urged the Lee Jae-myung administration to clarify a firm stance that they cannot concede anything in agriculture. Farmers' organizations are planning to hold a nationwide rally against the opening of agricultural, livestock, and aquatic products in the U.S.-Korea reciprocal tariff negotiation on the 28th near the presidential office in Yongsan, Seoul.
Earlier, on the 14th, Yeo stated at a briefing, "The agricultural sector also needs to make strategic judgments." He continued, "There are definitely parts that need to be viewed flexibly in terms of institutional improvement, competitiveness enhancement, and consumer welfare." This statement was interpreted as suggesting that some acceptance of the U.S. demand for opening its agricultural market could allow major industries like automobiles and semiconductors to receive relatively lower tariffs in the U.S. market.
In response, the Onion Producers Association stated in a statement on the 16th that "The Lee Jae-myung government must ask the people and farmers if agriculture, which has nothing left to open, should be opened further under U.S. trade pressure," and demanded the immediate replacement of Deputy Minister Yeo, who is advocating for concessions in agriculture. The Korean Farmers Federation also stated on the 14th, addressing Deputy Minister Yeo, "Do not sacrifice agriculture for the sake of a quick negotiation."
The motivation behind the onion farmers' actions appears to be the good harvest this year causing prices to drop and farmers to suffer. According to the Korea Rural Economic Institute (KREI), the average daily volume of onions entering Garak Market in May was 958 tons, a 5% increase from the previous year. With demand remaining similar but supply increasing, the wholesale price of domestic onions fell by 34% from the previous year to 810 won per kilogram.
The government tends to stabilize prices by mainly importing Chinese onions when onion harvests are poor and prices rise. At the rally that day, the Onion Producers Association urged that imported onions should not be placed in auctions where wholesale prices are determined at Garak Market. Chairman Nam said, "The public wholesale market is operated with the country's taxes. To protect public interests and national profit, the listing of imported agricultural products in the auction market should be stopped." He also mentioned that the narrow vegetable auction hall at Garak Market restricts the shipment of onions, contributing to price declines.
Meanwhile, Japan concluded tariff negotiations with the U.S. that day. The reciprocal tariff for the U.S. against Japan was lowered from the previously announced 25% to 15%. President Trump stated on his social media platform, Truth Social, "Perhaps the most important thing is that Japan is opening its market for automobiles, trucks, rice, and some agricultural products."
South Korea and the United States will hold a '2+2 senior-level trade consultation' on the 25th (local time). Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance Ku Yun-cheol, Deputy Minister Yeo Han-koo, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer will meet.