Government launches first-ever comprehensive farmland survey, focusing on high-risk speculative areas in the Seoul metropolitan area

The Government of the Republic of Korea has decided to conduct, for the first time, a comprehensive survey of all farmland owners nationwide. The survey is expected to focus on farmland owners in the Seoul metropolitan area. Authorities plan to closely examine whether the land is being held for speculation or for genuine agricultural management.
According to the Government of the Republic of Korea on the 2nd, the Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries plans to launch the comprehensive farmland survey as early as this month.
Until now, the government has examined the actual use of only a portion of farmland each year. This will be the first time that all farmland across the country is subject to investigation.
Previously, on the 24th of last month, President Lee Jae-myung ordered a review of a comprehensive farmland survey, noting that farmland has also become a target of speculation due to real estate problems, driving up prices. He also stressed that, if necessary, the government should issue farmland disposal orders for illegal activities.
The Constitution of the Republic of Korea contains a provision stating that the state must strive to realize the land-to-the-tiller principle in relation to farmland. To this end, the Farmland Act strictly limits the acquisition and ownership of farmland.
However, there are exceptions where farmland ownership is permitted. These include inherited farmland, cases where a person stops farming after engaging in agricultural management for at least eight years, and farmland held for weekend or experiential farming purposes.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (MAFRA) plans to use this comprehensive farmland survey to check the ownership, transactions, use, and conversion of farmland.
By examining whether farmland owners are actually engaged in agricultural management, the government aims to uncover unauthorized fallowing and illegal leasing.
In particular, the survey will focus on farmland located within a land transaction permit zone and on farmland acquired by owners who live outside the jurisdiction where the land is located.


mirror@fnnews.com Kim Kyu-seong Reporter