Korea Forest Service "Approval of Beehive Installation in National Forests... Amendment Passed by National Assembly"

Installation of beehives within national forests by beekeepers will be permitted. The purpose is to support the struggling beekeeping industry through regulatory improvements.

On the 11th, the Korea Forest Service announced that the partial amendment to the "Act on the Management and Administration of National Forests," which includes this provision, has passed the National Assembly plenary session.

The amendment includes allowing beekeepers to install beehives within conservation national forests. As part of proactive administration in the forestry sector to revitalize the beekeeping industry, the regulation has been improved so that beekeepers can install beehives for up to one year if there is no forest damage.

Additionally, the amendment includes provisions allowing the exchange of national forests upon correction of reasons for lease cancellation, easing the criteria for imposing late fees on national forest lease or usage fees, and establishing a National Forest Committee.

For minor violations such as failure to pay lease fees for leased forest land, the amendment allows the exchange of national forests if corrective action has been confirmed and five years have passed since then. It also relaxes regulations in the national forest leasing sector by capping the interest rate on late fees at a maximum of 6% and collecting less than 30% of the highest amount.

Furthermore, the amendment provides the basis for establishing a National Forest Committee to gather diverse opinions from private experts for rational management of national forests and to ensure fairness and accountability in policies related to the disposal or leasing of national forests.

Nam Sung-hyun, Administrator of the Korea Forest Service, stated, “We plan to continuously improve the system to harmonize the conservation of national forests with the revitalization of local economies through national forests.”

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