The Democratic Party and the government announced plans to establish a special law by the end of this year to legalize illegal farmland conversions and defer disposals, with a revision to the Farmland Law expected in the first half of next year. This comes in response to strong farmer opposition following the passage of a comprehensive farmland survey bill in May, as they seek to ease tensions ahead of the Chuseok holiday.
The Democratic Party and the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs held a meeting at the National Assembly to discuss these measures. After the meeting, Yoon Jun-byeong, the ruling party's secretary for the National Assembly's Agriculture, Food, and Fisheries Committee, told reporters, "We will push for the establishment of a special law to prepare legal grounds for the legalization of illegal farmland conversions and defer disposals by the end of this year. We also plan to develop a revised Farmland Law that reflects reality by the first half of next year."
The proposed special law and Farmland Law revision are expected to address issues related to fallow land and regulations concerning tenant farmers, which have arisen due to the aging farming population.
The ongoing comprehensive farmland survey, which began in May, is emphasized as a process to normalize farmland use in line with current realities. This effort aims to address farmer concerns that the survey overlooks issues such as aging, labor shortages, inherited farmland, and traditional leasing practices.
Yoon stated, "The goal of this survey is to normalize farmland use according to reality and to inspect illegal facilities, laying the groundwork for a major transformation in agricultural policy. After the survey, we will identify supportive measures and budget allocations."
Additionally, the government and the Democratic Party highlighted the need to combat the spread of false information that has exacerbated anxiety within the agricultural community, pledging to transparently share accurate information regarding the farmland survey.
The Democratic Party and the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs held a meeting at the National Assembly to discuss these measures. After the meeting, Yoon Jun-byeong, the ruling party's secretary for the National Assembly's Agriculture, Food, and Fisheries Committee, told reporters, "We will push for the establishment of a special law to prepare legal grounds for the legalization of illegal farmland conversions and defer disposals by the end of this year. We also plan to develop a revised Farmland Law that reflects reality by the first half of next year."
The proposed special law and Farmland Law revision are expected to address issues related to fallow land and regulations concerning tenant farmers, which have arisen due to the aging farming population.
The ongoing comprehensive farmland survey, which began in May, is emphasized as a process to normalize farmland use in line with current realities. This effort aims to address farmer concerns that the survey overlooks issues such as aging, labor shortages, inherited farmland, and traditional leasing practices.
Yoon stated, "The goal of this survey is to normalize farmland use according to reality and to inspect illegal facilities, laying the groundwork for a major transformation in agricultural policy. After the survey, we will identify supportive measures and budget allocations."
Additionally, the government and the Democratic Party highlighted the need to combat the spread of false information that has exacerbated anxiety within the agricultural community, pledging to transparently share accurate information regarding the farmland survey.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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