Restrooms and Parking Lots Now Allowed on Farmland... Ministry of Agriculture Announces Public-Focused Regulatory Rationalization

At the 2nd Agri-Food Regulatory Rationalization Strategy Meeting

It will now be possible to install convenience facilities such as restrooms and parking lots on farmland to support agricultural work. In addition, the period of farmland use for agrivoltaic solar power systems in designated renewable energy zones will be extended from the current 8 years to up to 23 years.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs announced on November 13 at the aT Center in Yangjae-dong, Seoul, that it held the "2nd Agri-Food Regulatory Rationalization Strategy Meeting" and discussed regulatory rationalization measures that the public can directly experience.

An official from the Ministry explained, "The tasks discussed at this meeting were selected based on suggestions raised during field meetings, the public petition system, and the National Assembly audit, and were evaluated for feasibility, urgency, and impact. We have confirmed a total of 54 tasks in five areas: agriculture as a national strategic industry safeguarding rural communities and food security, a national shift toward responsible agricultural policy, energy transition and balanced regional development, improving the quality of life for both people and animals, and rationalizing regulations affecting livelihoods."

As part of rationalizing regulations affecting livelihoods, the government will allow the installation of convenience facilities such as restrooms and parking lots on farmland. This measure addresses the difficulties raised at the youth farmer meeting with President Lee Jaemyung in September and will be promptly implemented within the year through an amendment to the Farmland Act.

To introduce solar power generation in rural areas in an orderly manner, the period of farmland use for agrivoltaic solar power systems in designated renewable energy zones will be extended from the current 8 years to up to 23 years. In addition, participation by local entities such as agricultural cooperatives will be expanded, and, through collaboration with the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment, financial support for community-led "solar income villages" will be broadened from primary financial institutions to secondary financial institutions, including local agricultural and livestock cooperatives.

To promote scaling up of agriculture and facilitate stable generational transition by expanding joint farming, the requirements for joint farming corporations to receive direct payments in their first year will be eased from a management area of 50 hectares and 25 participating farmers to 20 hectares and 5 farmers. Institutional support will also be expanded, such as giving priority for leasing farmland bank properties within joint farming business districts. Furthermore, the requirement for the farmland transfer retirement direct payment program, which previously required 10 consecutive years of farming experience, will be relaxed to a total of 10 years of farming experience.

Minister Song Miryung of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs stated, "We will no longer leave unclear, unnecessary, or unreasonable regulations that are felt in the field as mere practices. The Ministry will take the lead in resolving the complex and overlapping regulations that are intertwined across various ministries, in order to achieve regulatory rationalization that can be felt in the field."

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