In the News: Market opening pressures farmers to accelerate modernization
He has become known as the man without a suit and tie, following the wishes of his boss, President Lee Myung-bak. The president had thought the casual look to be more fitting for the nation’s minister for food, agriculture, forestry and fisheries to reflect the government’s commitment to working hand-in-hand with farmers to modernize the sector. Compared to major industries like information-technologies and automobiles, Korea’s agriculture industry is still in its nascent stages.
As much as the casual jacket replacing the suit served as a symbolic gesture a little after Minister Chang Tae-pyong’s appointment in August 2008, the nation’s top agriculture policymaker has demonstrated his undivided commitment to building the global competitiveness of an industry that is at a crossroads.
