Song Miryeong: "We take seriously the lack of explanation on farmland surveys... Will provide detailed, case-based guidance"

Met with village heads in Hamyang County on October 14 to explain follow-up measures for the farmland survey
"The survey is not intended to punish farmers who are diligently farming"

Song Miryeong, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, met with village chiefs on the 14th and said of the recently controversial farmland survey, "We take seriously the fact that we did not adequately explain what happens to farmland after the survey."

That day, Minister Song held a meeting with village chiefs at Hamyang County Office in Gyeongsangnam-do and explained the direction of follow-up measures and plans for institutional improvements following the farmland survey.

Song Miryeong, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, explains the direction of follow-up measures and plans for institutional improvements after a farmland survey during a meeting with village chiefs at Hamyang County Office on the 14th. Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.

The meeting was organized to hear directly from village chiefs about the various concerns and questions being raised in their communities regarding the farmland survey, and to provide accurate information about the direction of the government's follow-up measures.

Minister Song first apologized for the spread of misunderstandings about the farmland survey and promised to provide more careful explanations. "The farmland survey is not intended to punish farmers who diligently work their land," she said. "Going forward, we will provide more detailed guidance on the government's approach, focusing on cases that farmers are genuinely concerned about." She added, "I ask the village chiefs to accurately convey the government's follow-up measures so residents do not have unnecessary misunderstandings or concerns, and to actively share the voices of farmers facing difficulties in the field."

She also reiterated that minor violations unrelated to speculation would not be subject to corrective measures. "For ordinary cases unrelated to speculation that farmers frequently ask about - such as inherited farmland, customary leases involving elderly farmers, farmland owned by family clans or temples, unregistered inherited farmland, and land that is difficult to farm, such as landlocked plots and steep slopes - no obligation to dispose of the land or enforcement fines will be imposed based on the survey results," Minister Song said. "Entrusting farmland to the Farmland Bank is also a choice for farmers, not an obligation. We plan to expand its purchasing and consignment functions so that farmers who wish to do so can lease or sell their farmland through the Farmland Bank."

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and the Korea Rural Community Corporation have operated a farmland survey counseling center since October 12 to address the public's questions and concerns about the survey. The center provides guidance on ▲ identifying the three major types of speculation and determining whether a case constitutes serious illegal conversion of farmland; ▲ providing accurate information about government policies; and ▲ connecting farmers who face difficulties farming, including elderly farmers, with support through Farmland Bank programs, such as farmland leasing and consignment, the purchase of farmland for public leasing, and farmland pensions.

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