Song Mi-ryeong (Korean: 송미령, born 1967) is a South Korean professor and the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.[1]

Career

Song attended Seoul National University, earning a bachelor's degree in urban planning and a doctorate in public administration.[1] She served as a policy research expert at the Korea Rural Economic Institute (KREI), a South Korean agricultural think tank; she joined in 1997 and ultimately became senior researcher, specializing in agricultural economics.[1] She served as an advisor to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and as a member of several committees.[1]

In December 2023, President Yoon Suk Yeol appointed Song to the post of Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs,[1] as part of a broader cabinet reshuffle in which six new ministers and ministerial-level appointees were named.[2] During her confirmation hearings before the National Assembly in December 2023, Song supported the proposal to ban the dog-meat trade in South Korea beginning in 2027.[3] The dog-meat ban unanimously passed the National Assembly in January 2024,[4] and Song named a team within the ministry to oversee implementation.[5]

As agriculture minister, Song reaffirmed government policy against the import of apples and pears (a phytosanitary measure intended to prevent the introduction of pests). Song said in 2024 that relaxing the ban would not bring down high fruit prices in South Korea.[6]

In 2024, Song promoted a plan to boost the global prominence of Korean cuisine, setting a goal of having 15,000 Korean restaurants overseas and 100 Michelin-starred Korean restaurants (by 2027 compared to 31 Michelin-starred Korean restaurants globally as of 2023).[7]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Kim Boram (December 4, 2023). "Expert in agricultural economics tapped as new agriculture minister". Yonhap News Agency.
  2. ^ Jung Min-kyung, Rival parties set to clash over Yoon's new Cabinet picks, Korea Herald (December 17, 2023).
  3. ^ Agriculture minister voices strong support for ban on dog meat consumption, Korea Times (December 18, 2023).
  4. ^ Joohee Cho and Hakyung Kate Lee, South Korean assembly bans dog meat trade, consumption, ABC News (January 9, 2024).
  5. ^ Ko Dong-hwan, Agriculture ministry launches unit to monitor dog meat ban, Korea Times (January 22, 2024).
  6. ^ Gov't adamant against importing apples, pears despite surging fruit prices, Korea JoongAng Daily (March 8, 2024).
  7. ^ Ko Dong-hwan, Korea to nurture 100 Michelin-starred Korean restaurants abroad by 2027, Korea Times (February 2, 2024).