The government and the ruling party held a meeting on September 21 to discuss the direction of the nationwide land survey, deciding to prepare an additional amendment to the Land Law by the first half of next year. This initiative comes as dissatisfaction among farmers has grown since the survey began in May, prompting efforts to ease their concerns ahead of the Chuseok holiday.
The Democratic Party and the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs announced their plans during the meeting at the National Assembly, which included the establishment of a special law to legalize illegal land use alongside the amendment of the Land Law.
The ruling party plans to gather feedback on the recently implemented amendments to the Land Law, which they believe are disconnected from reality, and propose additional changes by the first half of next year. They emphasized that they would prioritize reflecting the voices from the field, including measures such as imposing fees for land use changes, protecting tenants, delaying dispossession, and legalizing illegal land use through a special law to be enacted by the end of the year.
The additional amendment to the Land Law is expected to include provisions for allowing rental agreements for contracted farmers and the return of public subsidy payments. Yoon Jun-byeong, a member of the National Assembly's Agriculture, Food, Rural Affairs, and Fisheries Committee, stated in a phone interview with Aju Economy that they are considering legalizing rental agreements for elderly and contracted farmers by providing justifiable reasons. He also mentioned plans to add provisions to ensure that public subsidy payments are returned to farmers when land is entrusted to the Korea Rural Community Corporation.
During the meeting, officials emphasized that the ongoing nationwide land survey is a process to normalize land use in line with current realities. The government is responding to strong backlash from farmers who argue that the measures overlook issues such as aging farmers, labor shortages, and traditional rental practices. Yoon added, "After the survey, we aim to normalize land use according to reality and lay the groundwork for a major transformation in agricultural policy, while seeking out supportive measures such as policy backing and budget allocations."
Earlier, the government began the nationwide land survey based on the amended Land Law, which passed the National Assembly in May and took effect last month. The amendment strengthens the obligation for land disposal orders, stipulating that failure to comply will result in a fee of 25% of the higher value between the appraised price and the publicly announced price. Consequently, farmers have raised concerns that the government may enforce compulsory land dispossession.
The Democratic Party and the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs announced their plans during the meeting at the National Assembly, which included the establishment of a special law to legalize illegal land use alongside the amendment of the Land Law.
The ruling party plans to gather feedback on the recently implemented amendments to the Land Law, which they believe are disconnected from reality, and propose additional changes by the first half of next year. They emphasized that they would prioritize reflecting the voices from the field, including measures such as imposing fees for land use changes, protecting tenants, delaying dispossession, and legalizing illegal land use through a special law to be enacted by the end of the year.
The additional amendment to the Land Law is expected to include provisions for allowing rental agreements for contracted farmers and the return of public subsidy payments. Yoon Jun-byeong, a member of the National Assembly's Agriculture, Food, Rural Affairs, and Fisheries Committee, stated in a phone interview with Aju Economy that they are considering legalizing rental agreements for elderly and contracted farmers by providing justifiable reasons. He also mentioned plans to add provisions to ensure that public subsidy payments are returned to farmers when land is entrusted to the Korea Rural Community Corporation.
During the meeting, officials emphasized that the ongoing nationwide land survey is a process to normalize land use in line with current realities. The government is responding to strong backlash from farmers who argue that the measures overlook issues such as aging farmers, labor shortages, and traditional rental practices. Yoon added, "After the survey, we aim to normalize land use according to reality and lay the groundwork for a major transformation in agricultural policy, while seeking out supportive measures such as policy backing and budget allocations."
Earlier, the government began the nationwide land survey based on the amended Land Law, which passed the National Assembly in May and took effect last month. The amendment strengthens the obligation for land disposal orders, stipulating that failure to comply will result in a fee of 25% of the higher value between the appraised price and the publicly announced price. Consequently, farmers have raised concerns that the government may enforce compulsory land dispossession.
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.