To guard borderlands, Korea opts to screen foreign land purchases on 353 islands
Seeking to safeguard national security and bolster territorial sovereignty, the Korean government said Thursday that it will require non-citizens to obtain prior government approval before purchasing land across 353 remote border islands. The sweeping measure, announced by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport in close coordination with the National Intelligence Service and the…
The Korean government has announced stringent new regulations aimed at safeguarding national security and territorial sovereignty by requiring non-citizens to obtain government approval before purchasing land on 353 remote border islands. This decision, made jointly by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the National Intelligence Service, and the Ministry of National Defense, reflects heightened concerns over foreign ownership in strategically vital maritime regions.
Effective immediately following its public announcement, these new restrictions mandate that any foreign national wishing to acquire land on these designated islands must first secure permission from local municipal authorities before finalizing any purchase agreements. Municipalities will conduct a thorough evaluation of each application, collaborating closely with defense and intelligence agencies to ensure compliance with security protocols.
Failure to adhere to these requirements could result in the transaction being deemed legally invalid, with violators potentially facing imprisonment for up to two years.
Written by urgent.news from The Korea Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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