Farmers Demand Direct Elections for Nonghyup Leadership

A growing chorus of farmer organizations is calling for significant reforms within the National Agricultural Cooperative Federation (Nonghyup), with the reintroduction of direct elections for the central committee president at the forefront of their demands. This movement, spearheaded by groups like the National Farmers' Federation Gangwon Provincial Federation, argues that direct elections are not merely a procedural change but a fundamental restoration of farmers' rights and a crucial step towards the democratization of Nonghyup.

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The direct election system for the Nonghyup Central Committee chairman is a trend of the times.

The proponents of direct elections frame it as a long-overdue recognition of the 1.84 million farmers who, they contend, have never truly been masters of their own cooperative since its inception in 1961. They assert that direct elections would empower farmers to directly control Nonghyup's management and operations, marking a historic reclamation of their sovereignty. This push for reform is seen as a direct challenge to the current system, which they argue has perpetuated vested interests and hindered genuine farmer representation.

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We condemn Lee Ju-han, the head of Jinbu Nonghyup, who is obsessed with being a subordinate of Nonghyup Chairman Kang Ho-dong and is trampling on the voting rights of 1.84 million farmers.

Furthermore, these farmer groups are critical of the existing audit system within Nonghyup, describing it as a 'laundry service for corruption' that overlooks the misdeeds of central committee leaders and local cooperative heads. They express disbelief at the sudden invocation of 'autonomy' by some cooperative leaders who previously failed to advocate for lower commission fees amidst soaring agricultural material costs. This perceived hypocrisy fuels their demand for greater transparency and accountability.

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The direct election is a historic declaration of sovereign recovery for farmers who have never been treated as owners since the establishment of Nonghyup in 1961, and the completion of Nonghyup's democratization.

From our perspective at Hankyoreh, this movement represents a significant grassroots effort to reclaim democratic control over a vital institution. While Western media might focus on the economic implications of agricultural policy, we emphasize the struggle for democratic participation and farmer empowerment. The debate over Nonghyup's leadership structure is not just about internal governance; it's about who truly controls the future of Korean agriculture. The demand for direct elections signifies a desire for a more responsive and representative Nonghyup, one that prioritizes the needs and voices of its farmer members above all else.

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The current audit system of Nonghyup has been nothing but a 'laundry service for corruption,' turning a blind eye to the corruption of the central committee chairman and covering up the misdeeds of regional cooperative heads.