SEOUL, Nov. 23 (Xinhuanet) - The Republic of Korea (ROK) National Assembly on Wednesday ratified a government plan to further open the country's rice market.

    Under the plan, Seoul is to raise its rice import quota to 7.96percent of its total domestic consumption by 2014 from the current4 percent. In return, the country is to be given a 10-year grace period in introducing tariffs on rice.

    The ROK  government agreed to the rice market plan last year after negotiations with the United States, China, Thailand and six other rice-producing countries. Enditem