Gyeonggi Special Judicial Police Detect 92 Illegal Activities in Development Restriction Zones

[Asia Economy (Suwon) = Reporter Lee Young-gyu] Gyeonggi Province has cracked down on numerous landowners and operators who committed illegal acts within the development-restricted zones, such as installing unauthorized containers, building vinyl greenhouses on farmland, and operating furniture factories without permits.

The Gyeonggi Province Special Judicial Police announced on the 6th that from June 1 to 12, they investigated 396 suspected illegal activities across the province within development-restricted zones, uncovering 92 cases of unauthorized construction, illegal change of use, and land alteration, and filed criminal charges.

Within development-restricted zones, any construction, installation of structures, change of use, land alteration, or storage of goods requires approval from the relevant authorities.

In a notable case, Mr. A from Goyang City installed unauthorized containers in a forest area and lived there, illegally altering the surroundings by creating artificial ponds before being caught. Mr. B from Uiwang City installed unauthorized vinyl greenhouses in a forest area for residential purposes, planted pine trees nearby, and illegally altered the land into a garden before being apprehended.

Mr. C from Namyangju City leased pasture land from landowner Mr. D since 2018, illegally altered it into a gravel storage yard, and changed a livestock barn into an office without permission, leading to a crackdown.

Mr. E from Uiwang City carried out unauthorized landfill and compaction work on farmland and used it as a parking lot for a cafe or restaurant before being caught.

Mr. F from Yangju City built a vinyl greenhouse on farmland but did not cultivate crops, instead using it as an unauthorized furniture (frame) manufacturing factory, while Mr. G illegally expanded an agricultural warehouse and lived on the second floor before being caught in the investigation.

The special judicial police have filed criminal charges against all these offenders and plan to request administrative actions from the relevant city and county offices.

If buildings are illegally changed in use or land is altered for profit or habitual reasons within development-restricted zones, under the "Special Measures Act on the Designation and Management of Development-Restricted Zones," offenders may face imprisonment of up to three years or fines up to 30 million KRW.

Inchi Kwon, head of the special judicial police, emphasized, "Since development-restricted zones have significant public value in preventing urban sprawl and preserving the natural environment, investigations into illegal activities within these zones will continue. We will strongly respond, including administrative enforcement, against habitual offenders in cooperation with related departments such as city and county offices."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.