27% of Farmland Suspected of Illegal Activities... On-Site Investigations to Begin Next Month

Ministry of Agriculture Announces Results of First Basic Investigation
Suspicious Cases of Illegal Leasing and Unauthorized Fallow Identified
In-Depth On-Site Inspections to Involve Agricultural Quality Management Experts

The government's first basic investigation aimed at eradicating farmland speculation has revealed that 27% of farmland is suspected of illegal leases, unauthorized fallow, and similar violations. The government plans to conduct on-site and in-depth investigations targeting the farmland identified as suspicious.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, 1.32 million hectares (10.13 million parcels), representing 97% of the targeted area, were covered in the investigation completed between May 18 and July 29 of this year, as announced on the 30th.

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The comprehensive farmland inspection underway this year covers 1.36 million hectares acquired since January 1, 1996. The investigation is divided into two parts: a basic investigation focused on administrative data and an in-depth investigation focused on on-site verification. For the basic investigation, a total of 5,313 government officials and 2,964 civilian surveyors participated nationwide.

The basic investigation found that 27.0% of farmland (2.84 million parcels) is suspected of violating ownership restrictions, illegal leasing, illegal conversion of use, or unauthorized fallow. Specifically, farmland registered as "self-managed" in official records such as the farmland ledger and farm management registration information—but showing no records of various support programs like fertilizer, tax-free fuel, or disaster insurance—were most frequently suspected of illegal leasing, accounting for 21.1%. Unauthorized fallow accounted for 11.6%, illegal conversion for 9.0%, and violations of ownership restrictions for 1.4%.

During the basic investigation period, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and the Korea Rural Community Corporation operated a special management period (May 18 to July 31) and a protection reporting center for tenant farmers. As a result, farmland entrusted to the farmland bank for lease increased by 80% year-on-year, and the reporting center received a total of 206 reports of violations of the Farmland Act. For reports of forced eviction related to the comprehensive inspection, the farmland bank individually provided substitute farmland and took all necessary actions. Cases reported for illegal leasing and illegal conversion will undergo special inspection during the in-depth investigation, and the reporting center will continue to operate for an extended period.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs plans to start the in-depth, on-site investigation of suspicious farmland identified in the basic investigation beginning next month. To this end, the government will supplement documentary review with direct interviews and resident surveys involving village leaders and local farmers, and has prepared on-site inspection guidelines. Regional training for government officials and civilian surveyors was also conducted from July 20 to 28, with practical training sessions in each city, county, and district. Notably, 132 employees of the Korea Rural Community Corporation obtained drone operation licenses for aerial surveys, and a field investigation system was newly developed to provide aerial and drone photographs, itemized checklists, and facility area measurement tools.

The in-depth investigation will proceed in the order of field inspection followed by supplementary investigation. For the first time, the National Agricultural Products Quality Management Service, with specialty in practical farming investigations under the public direct payment scheme and farm management, will participate in investigating farmland at high risk of speculation. Field inspections will be conducted by public officials and surveyors physically visiting the land; travel and fuel expenses will be provided to surveyors. However, in areas that are difficult to access, such as islands and remote mountains, drone, aerial, or satellite images will be used. In the supplementary investigation, additional verification will be conducted for cases where it is difficult to identify illegal leasing on-site. While farmland owners will be asked for supporting documents, supplementary administrative information, resident interviews, and direct questioning will be utilized to ensure accurate identification of violations and to reduce paperwork for elderly farmers.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs stated that while it will ensure law-abiding farmland owners do not experience unnecessary anxiety, it will respond strictly to speculative farmland violations. The Ministry and local governments will categorize confirmed violations by type and respond rigorously to speculation-related matters after in-depth investigations. In cases where elderly or physically limited farmers are unavoidably leaving their land fallow, or when farmland is exchanged among farmers out of necessity, or when simple agricultural storage facilities are installed on farmland without formal permits—common occurrences in rural areas—alternative guidance or corrective measures will be considered in recognition of field realities. Additionally, for violating farmland and long-term idle plots, beyond administrative actions, the farmland bank will consider purchasing or restoring such land, consolidating and expanding farmland holdings, supporting young farmers, and installing village-based solar power projects as diverse utilization strategies.

Minister Song Miryung of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs said, "Farmers who are quietly cultivating their fields and paddies should have little concern about the comprehensive farmland survey," adding, "The purpose of this survey is to accurately understand the overall status of farmland, ensure that poorly managed plots can be utilized by farmers and young farmers, thereby improving farmland productivity and strengthening the foundation for the future of agriculture."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.