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…
In a move aimed at enhancing national security and reinforcing territorial sovereignty, the Korean government announced on Thursday measures requiring non-citizens to obtain prior government approval before purchasing land on 353 remote border islands. This decision, jointly made by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the National Intelligence Service, and the Ministry of National Defense, comes as Seoul becomes increasingly cautious about foreign ownership in strategically sensitive maritime regions.
The regulations, effective immediately, mean that foreign nationals seeking to acquire land parcel by parcel in these designated islands must now seek permission from local municipal authorities before finalizing acquisition contracts. The municipal authorities will review each application in coordination with defense and intelligence agencies.
Any transactions carried out without the requisite authorization will be deemed legally invalid, with violators potentially facing sentences of up to two years in prison.
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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