Gyeonggi Special Judicial Police Detect 26 Illegal Activities in Development Restriction Zones

Gyeonggi Province has uncovered a large number of offenders who illegally built vinyl greenhouses on farmland within the development-restricted zone and operated them as houses or warehouses without permission, or who unlawfully changed the use of facilities permitted as animal and plant facilities such as mushroom cultivation houses to warehouses.

The Gyeonggi Province Special Judicial Police announced on the 6th that from September 23 to October 11, they conducted inspections on 280 suspected illegal activities within the development-restricted zones in the province and detected 26 cases of illegal construction, illegal use changes, and illegal land alterations.

Within the development-restricted zone, any development activities such as building construction, installation of structures, change of use, land alteration, or storage of goods require permission from the competent authority.

By type of illegal activity, there were ▲8 cases (31%) of illegal construction involving new construction or extension of buildings without permission ▲14 cases (54%) of illegal use changes where buildings were used for other purposes without permission ▲4 cases (15%) of illegal land alteration such as converting farmland into building sites or paving without permission.

In a major violation case, Mr. A in Goyang City was caught operating a logistics warehouse by illegally constructing a warehouse without permission. When constructing buildings within the development-restricted zone, permission from the competent authority must be obtained, and only those engaged in agriculture, forestry, or fisheries may build agricultural warehouses for storing products or agricultural machinery.

Mr. B in Ansan City was caught during an inspection for illegally changing the use of a bean sprout cultivation facility to a logistics warehouse. Illegal use changes involving animal and plant facilities such as livestock barns or mushroom cultivation houses, or agricultural warehouses being used as logistics warehouses or retail stores within the development-restricted zone are subject to crackdown.

Cases of illegal activities within the development-restricted zone uncovered by the Gyeonggi-do Special Judicial Police. Provided by Gyeonggi Provincial Government

Mr. C in Gimpo City was caught after illegally altering the land designated as ‘forest land’ in front of a church without permission and using it as a church parking lot. When altering land within the development-restricted zone by filling, cutting, or paving, permission from the competent authority must be obtained.

If construction or use changes of buildings, installation of structures, land alterations, tree cutting, or stacking of goods are carried out without permission or in violation of the permission within the development-restricted zone, imprisonment for up to one year or a fine of up to 10 million won may be imposed. If such acts are committed for profit or habitually, imprisonment for up to three years or a fine of up to 30 million won may be imposed.

Ki-do Gyeonggi Province Special Judicial Police Chief stated, "All illegal offenders will be criminally charged, and we plan to eradicate illegal activities through continuous investigations," adding, "We will strive to protect green spaces and sustainably conserve the environment in line with the carbon-neutral Gyeonggi RE100 policy direction."

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