Jang Donghyuk: "Farmland Survey Could Be Exploited by Speculators... Must Be Halted Immediately"

People Power Party Holds On-Site Meeting in Response to Comprehensive Farmland Survey Plan

Jang Donghyuk, leader of the People Power Party, on September 30, stressed the need for the government to immediately halt its plan for a full-scale farmland survey, stating, "If all farmland information nationwide is aggregated, it could enable groups with specific intentions to engage in 'farmland hunting,' buying land at rock-bottom prices."

During an on-site meeting with local farmers in Chungju, North Chungcheong Province, on this day, Jang said, "If farmers do not understand the purpose of the survey, it raises concerns that the government may be pushing ahead with a political agenda." He added, "It is not too late to suspend the nationwide farmland survey right away, listen thoroughly to farmers' opinions, and return to the drawing board before proceeding."

Jang Donghyuk, leader of the People Power Party, is speaking at a meeting with local farmers regarding a full-scale farmland survey on the 30th in Chungju, Chungcheongbuk-do. Photo by Yonhap News

He also questioned the government's justification for the survey as a means to eradicate speculation. Jang argued, "If speculation is the issue, it is sufficient to monitor certain areas where land prices are rising and crack down on whether land is actually being farmed." He continued, "It is difficult to understand why the government is obsessed with conducting a full-scale survey of all farmland nationwide, even in areas with minimal speculation risk."

Jang warned of the possibility that data collected through the survey could be exploited by speculative forces. He said, "If the government creates nationwide data indicating which plots are not being cultivated, it creates a system where someone could buy up farmland just above the purchase price offered by the farmland bank, effectively acquiring it at a bargain." He added, "Even if the current government has no such intention, if the data were to end up in the hands of someone with different objectives, it could make nationwide farmland hunting possible."

Jang also raised concerns about food security and farmland sovereignty associated with the implementation of the survey. He cautioned, "While claiming to eradicate speculation, such measures could actually heighten the risk of new speculation, and threaten farmland and land sovereignty, food security, and food sovereignty." He concluded, "Ultimately, this may lead to a society where the farmland bank purchases land, the state holds land ownership, and farmers end up leasing land for cultivation."

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