Twenty-seven percent of farmland nationwide is suspected of violating the Farmland Act, including through illegal leasing.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs said on the 30th that it will complete its basic farmland survey by the 31st of this month and begin an in-depth investigation next month targeting farmland flagged for suspected violations in the initial survey.
Since May 18, the central and local governments have been conducting a basic review of administrative records covering 1.36 million hectares of farmland acquired since Jan. 1, 1996. As of the 29th, the review had been completed for 1.32 million hectares, or 10.13 million plots, accounting for 97% of the total subject to inspection.
The survey classified 2.84 million plots, or 27% of all farmland examined, as suspected of violating the Farmland Act. By category, 21.1% involved suspected illegal leasing, in which land was registered in the farmland ledger as being cultivated by the owner but had no record of fertilizer subsidies or tax-exempt fuel support. This was followed by suspected unauthorized abandonment of farmland at 11.6%, suspected illegal conversion to non-agricultural use at 9.0%, and violations of ownership restrictions at 1.4%.
The in-depth investigation beginning next month will include field inspections using drones and satellites to determine conditions on the ground, including whether the land is actually being cultivated. The ministry said that if violations are confirmed, it will take administrative action in accordance with the law, including ordering owners to dispose of farmland where required. Cases involving speculation will be dealt with strictly, including through criminal complaints. During the past three months, the ministry and the Korea Rural Community Corporation have operated a special enforcement period and reporting center. As a result, farmland entrusted to the Farmland Bank for leasing increased by 80% from a year earlier, while 206 reports of Farmland Act violations were filed.
The ministry plans to develop measures under which the Farmland Bank can purchase or take management of farmland found to be in violation of the Farmland Act, as well as farmland left unused for long periods, and put it to uses such as supporting young farmers or installing community-based agricultural solar power facilities.
Agriculture Minister Song Mi-ryung said, “Farmers who are quietly working their fields should not be overly concerned about the comprehensive farmland survey.” She added, “The purpose of the survey is to identify farmland that is not being properly used and return it to farmers and young farmers, thereby increasing farmland productivity and strengthening the foundation for the future of agriculture.”
Posted by Freewhale98
2 Comments
1. Summary
27% of Korean farmland is suspected of violating farmland Act. According to Korean laws, only farmers who cultivate the land can own farmland but some people buy farmland for land speculation purposes illegally. Recently, Korean government is cracking down this practice and enforcing old laws to enact mandated purchase of these illegal farmlands to be distributed to young farmers or community-use purpose
2. How is this related to the sub
(1) Land reforms: Korean government is enforcing an old farmland law to counter land speculation and give farmland to young farmers.
3. My opinion
There is a debate whether the old farmland law of “only cultivator can own farmland” is fit for modern agricultural structure. But, it is hard to change that principle as that principle is in the constitution and that challenges the legacy of 1948 post-colonial land reform. The horror of “tenant farmer” exploitation under Japanese colonial rule is too great to convince farmers to give up that principle.
Korea under I Jae Myeong is so unfathomably based. I honestly would move there if I could