South Korean government and ruling party choose lenient handling of minor farmland survey breaches

During a policy meeting in Seoul, the government and the ruling Democratic Party reached an accord to adopt a forgiving stance toward minor breaches identified in the comprehensive farmland ownership survey launched earlier this year. While clear instances of land speculation will be prosecuted, minor or routine violations will be addressed through guidance or system improvements, according to Agriculture Minister Song Mi-ryung.

The minister emphasized restoring farmland’s proper purpose rather than immediate punitive action. Representative Yoon Joon-byong, who attended the meeting, described the survey as a step toward normalising farmland use and vowed to draft a special law to reinforce the initiative by the end of the year. The main opposition, the People Power Party, warned that the survey may heighten farmer anxiety and infringe property rights. The approach aims to balance anti-speculation enforcement with practical support for farmers.