Gov't, ruling party agree to lenient approach for minor violations in farmland survey

The government and the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) reached an agreement on Monday to adopt a more lenient stance towards minor infractions identified during the country's recently initiated nationwide farmland survey. Simultaneously, the authorities vowed to intensify efforts to combat clear instances of land speculation.

The nationwide survey commenced earlier this year with the primary objective of ascertaining the true ownership of farmland and thwarting its conversion into a speculative asset. However, the initiative has drawn criticism from the main opposition People Power Party, which contends that the survey has instilled undue anxiety among farmers and may potentially infringe upon their property rights.

During a policy meeting, Agriculture Minister Song Mi-ryung stated that should the survey reveal clear evidence of land speculation, the government would enforce corrective measures in line with the law and established principles. In cases where minor or routine violations were detected, the ministry announced its intention to offer guidance or implement alternative measures, such as system improvements.

The minister emphasized that the government's primary focus would be on rectifying the original intent of farmland, rather than immediately penalizing violators.