[Korea Farmers' News Agency, Reporter Seo Sang-hyeon] Apple-growing farmers raised their voices, demanding that the import of U.S. apples should not be allowed and that quarantine principles should be upheld. This stems from concerns that if trade pressure is conceded lightly, it will lead to a series of market openings, causing a rapid collapse of the agricultural foundation, as well as the loss of safe food for the people and food sovereignty. On July 31, apple-growing farmers from across the nation held a 'National Rally Against the Import of U.S. Apples' in front of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy at the Government Complex in Sejong. The event was jointly hosted by the Korea Apple Association, the Korea Fruit Farmers' Association Federation, and the Nationwide Cooperative Apple Council, with an estimated 1,500 participants from 120 apple-growing regions.