Ruling party, mindful of farmers’ sentiment, to enact special rural measures act this year exempting inherited farmland from disposition

[Financial News] The Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) said on the 12th that it would enact a special measures act by the end of the year to provide relief for customary farmland use in rural areas. The move appears aimed at easing growing discontent and unease in rural communities over the comprehensive farmland survey pursued by the Lee Jae-myung administration.
Han Byung-do, the DPK floor leader, said at a Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly, “The DPK will responsibly pursue enactment of a special measures act by the end of the year that reflects realities in rural areas,” adding, “We will never judge long-standing rural practices by the same standard as real estate speculation.”
Han said, “On the 8th, the government announced plans to enact a special measures act that would exempt inherited farmland and customary lease arrangements involving elderly farmers from being subject to disposition,” adding, “It made clear the basic principle that, unless a case is clearly one of speculation, people will not have to dispose of their farmland or pay enforcement fines as a result of this survey.”
He explained, “The purpose of the comprehensive farmland survey is not to crack down on farmers,” but “to assess how farmland is being used nationwide and distinguish land used for speculation from land actually used for farming.”
The core of the follow-up measures to the comprehensive farmland survey unveiled by the government on the 8th is to distinguish real estate speculation from customary and practical uses of farmland that have been allowed in rural areas. In particular, the government says it will not require the disposal of farmland or impose enforcement fines based on the survey results in cases unrelated to speculation, such as inherited farmland and customary lease arrangements involving elderly farmers.
However, the government is maintaining its position that if there are indications that farmland is being used for actual speculative purposes, those involved may be subject to punishment under the current Farmland Act.
The DPK plans to introduce the special measures bill this month and secure its passage in a plenary session by the end of the year. It also plans to begin work on revising the Farmland Act to address issues identified in the comprehensive farmland survey.
Han stressed, “Protecting the lives of farmers and fishers is the first principle of policy,” adding, “We will protect good-faith farmers and address farmland speculation. The DPK will pay close attention to the matter to ensure that not a single farmer is treated unfairly.”
[email protected] Kim Hyeong-gu Reporter