The Presidential Office on the 22nd rejected claims that the government's comprehensive farmland survey has reduced transaction volumes and driven down prices for farmland in provincial areas.
Lee Young-soo, presidential secretary for agriculture, forestry and livestock, made the remarks on "Fact Mill," the Presidential Office's online policy YouTube program. "It is true that farmland prices are trending lower overall, but it is not accurate to say that this is entirely due to the farmland survey," Lee said.
Lee pointed to the tightening of the Farmland Act in the wake of the 2021 land speculation scandal involving Korea Land & Housing Corporation (LH) employees as the fundamental cause of falling farmland prices. "Farmland transaction volume rose 2.2% this year from the same period a year earlier, and while farmland prices fell 4.4%, the decline has narrowed relative to the average annual drop of 9% after the LH speculation scandal," Lee said.
Lee also addressed concerns that farmers who have stopped farming because of old age or health problems could be forced to sell their land as a result of the survey. "If someone is 60 or older and has held qualification for five years or more, private leasing to relatives or acquaintances is also permitted," Lee said. "For inherited farmland of less than one hectare, about 3,000 pyeong, private entrustment to friends or acquaintances is also possible."
"This survey is aimed solely at identifying cases linked to speculation," Lee added. "Only farmland that is leased illegally or left uncultivated is classified as speculative, so most cases do not apply." On the issue of enforcement fines, Lee said, "You can think of it as applying only to speculative farmland."
Responding to claims in some quarters that the government intends to force sales of farmland and then buy it up at bargain prices, Lee pushed back firmly, calling the argument "absurd and close to incitement." He added: "If you do not want to sell, you do not have to. That is for farmers to decide. But we are securing a budget and making preparations to ease the burden on those who do want to sell."
