Song Mi-ryong, the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, visited Hongseong, South Chungcheong Province, to hear the concerns of farmers regarding the ongoing agricultural land survey. The government reiterated that the purpose of this survey is not to identify or penalize farmers, but to understand the actual conditions of land ownership and usage for future policy improvements.
On September 22, Minister Song attended a meeting at the Mundang Environmental Information Village in Hongdong-myeon, Hongseong-gun, aimed at gathering insights from farmers, including elderly, tenant, and young farmers, about the challenges they face in managing and utilizing agricultural land.
During the meeting, issues were raised regarding the burdens of land management for elderly farmers, the need for stable farming conditions for tenant farmers, and the challenges young farmers face in securing land. Concerns were also expressed about the possibility of having to dispose of land immediately following the survey.
Minister Song clarified that the agricultural land survey is intended to accurately assess land ownership and usage, not to identify or penalize farmers. She emphasized that, according to the follow-up measures announced on September 21, customary violations in rural areas, except for certain illegal cases, will not be subject to penalties. Furthermore, there are plans to provide ample time for normalization and legalization of these customary violations through the establishment of special legislation.
She highlighted specific cases that would be subject to penalties, such as acquiring land in designated areas by submitting false farming plans, leaving the land uncultivated without permission, or illegally leasing it. Other examples include acquiring land as an agricultural corporation and engaging in real estate activities, as well as illegally converting agricultural land for non-agricultural uses, such as campsites or storage areas, which are restricted in agricultural promotion zones.
Minister Song stated, "The realities of agricultural land cannot be fully understood from a desk. Having directly witnessed the difficulties faced by farmers and the realities of land use, I am committed to advancing necessary reforms, including the establishment of special legislation and amendments to land laws, to ensure that land policies align with current realities."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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