Lee Floats 'Export Levy' for CPTPP... Says Farmland Survey Aims to End Speculation

First Town Hall Meeting with Farmers and Fishers at Cheong Wa Dae
Proposes Using Part of Export Profits to Compensate Farmers and Fishers for Losses
Also Pushes to Increase Direct Payments for Public Benefit
Reaffirms No Application to Join This Year
"Trade Expansion Cannot Be Avoided"
Farmland Survey "Is Not About Taking Land Away"
Reaffirms Commitment to Direct Election of National Agricultural Cooperative Federation Chair

On Oct. 26, President Lee Jae-myung proposed introducing an “export levy” to compensate the agriculture, forestry and fisheries sectors for losses resulting from South Korea’s accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). Under the proposal, companies that benefit from expanded trade would return part of their profits to affected industries. He also said the government would use public funds to make up the roughly 700 billion won shortfall in the Rural Community Coexistence and Cooperation Fund, which raised only about 300 billion won despite an earlier pledge to contribute 1 trillion won. Regarding the nationwide farmland survey, he reiterated that it was intended to identify farmland acquired for speculative purposes, not to take land away from farmers or penalize them.

President Lee Jae-myung listens to a representative of a farmers' and fishers' group during a meeting with farmers and fishers at Cheong Wa Dae on Oct. 26, 2026. Yonhap News.

Speaking at a “Dialogue with Farmers and Fishers” at the state guesthouse of Cheong Wa Dae, Lee said, “If someone benefits from a new agreement, part of those gains should be set aside to compensate those who suffer losses. Shouldn’t we consider something like an export levy?” He added that the proposal had not yet been discussed with the relevant government ministries at the working level.

“It is true that until now, we have focused on expanding export markets and have not been sufficiently attentive to compensating those who suffer losses,” Lee said. “We must not impose losses and damage unilaterally on people because they have less power or are fewer in number.” His remarks reflected an intent to provide institutional compensation for the sacrifices made by the agriculture, forestry and fisheries sectors as exports expanded.

On the Rural Community Coexistence and Cooperation Fund, Lee said, “We promised to raise 1 trillion won, but now I see that it amounts to only about 300 billion won. To restore trust, let’s have the government make up the rest.” In response to concerns that farmers and fishers had not felt the benefits because companies designated how their contributions could be used, he said the government would address the issue through public contributions and take farmers’ and fishers’ opinions into account.

Lee nevertheless stood firm on the need for South Korea to join the CPTPP. “South Korea is a trading nation. With the entire world liberalizing trade, can we maintain our standing as a trading nation if we opt out?” he said. “We cannot avoid joining for the sake of the country as a whole.” At the same time, he reaffirmed that the government would not apply to join this year, so it could fully consult with farmers and fishers. He also said the accession negotiations would take considerable time, making it unlikely that they would be concluded during his term.

On the issue of Japanese seafood, which has drawn strong opposition from the agriculture, forestry and fisheries sectors, Lee called it “a significant practical obstacle” and said it required careful consideration. He also described increasing direct payments for public benefit as “a clear government task.” Noting that direct support for farmers was lower than in Japan and Europe, he said, “We will prepare systematically. I think you can look forward to it.” He added that the basic income program for rural communities, currently in place in some counties, should also be expanded over the long term.

Lee gave a detailed explanation of the reasons for the nationwide farmland survey. “Initially, we wanted to check the status of farmland near the Seoul metropolitan area that may have been acquired for speculative purposes,” he said. “We want to determine whether people have reported that they intend to farm, bought farmland and then used it for other purposes.” He said the survey was expanded nationwide following a request from the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, which noted that a legally required survey of farmland conditions had not been conducted for decades.

He stressed that “the intent is not to take farmland away or impose penalties,” adding that the government did not intend to take issue with cases in which people were unable to farm land they had inherited. However, he said, “There is no future unless we move beyond being a republic of real estate speculation,” and vowed to tackle speculation “even if it means making some political sacrifices.” Comparing real estate speculation to “passing the hot potato,” he also warned that South Korea could face prolonged economic hardship like Japan.

President Lee Jaemyung and Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Song Miryeong speak at a dialogue with farmers and fishers at Cheong Wa Dae on Oct. 26, 2026. Yonhap News.

The meeting also addressed increasing the budget for the Farmland Bank’s purchase of land for public rental. The government raised the budget from 1.6 trillion won this year to 2 trillion won next year, but local representatives said an additional 1.2 trillion won was needed to meet pent-up demand. Lee said he would continue expanding purchase support. On reforming the National Agricultural Cooperative Federation, he reaffirmed his intention to introduce a direct election system in which all cooperative members elect its chair.

Farmers also expressed disagreement over using farmland for solar power generation. In response to concerns that farmland should be used for food production, Lee cited the government’s explanation that 440,000 hectares of land registered as farmland are excluded from the area actually under cultivation, and emphasized the need to use neglected farmland for solar power generation. He said this could help meet electricity demand driven by the growth of the artificial intelligence (AI) industry while also increasing rural incomes. He added that local residents should be given business opportunities to prevent outside operators from monopolizing the profits.

Other demands included increasing the share of the national budget allocated to agriculture to 5%, guaranteeing prices for agricultural products, recognizing women farmers’ contributions to farm management, improving direct payments for forestry, and addressing labor shortages in the fishing industry. Lee also said he would conduct a comprehensive review of how tariff-rate quotas, intended to stabilize prices, can instead benefit some importers. He instructed relevant ministries to expand communication by product and region and inform those who made proposals of the results of their review.

President Lee Jaemyung poses for a commemorative photo with attendees after a meeting with farmers and fishers at the Blue House on the 26th. Oct. 26, 2026. Yonhap News

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