Yecheon Reexamines the Ownership of Farmland

Comprehensive Survey of Over 74,000 Farmland Parcels
Correcting Speculative Ownership and Illegal Leasing

Yecheon County is launching a comprehensive survey on large-scale farmland use to establish the constitutional principle of "land to the tiller" and ensure the efficient management of farmland.

The county announced that it will conduct the "2026 Pan-Governmental Farmland Use Status Survey" on farmland within its jurisdiction from May 18 to December 31. This initiative aims to prevent speculative ownership of farmland and to establish an orderly system in which only actual cultivators own and use farmland.

Yecheon-gun Government Office Building
Photo by Byunggeon Kwon

The survey will target 74,055 farmland parcels, totaling 12,737.93 hectares, that were acquired in the county after January 2, 1996. Through this investigation, the county plans to thoroughly examine overall farmland usage and strictly respond to any illegal activities uncovered.

Key areas to be examined include: ▲whether crops are being cultivated and perennial plants are being grown; ▲whether unlawful conversion of land use has occurred; ▲compliance with permits for temporary use for other purposes; and ▲the appropriateness of farmland ownership and lease arrangements. Special attention will be paid to violations of the Farmland Act, such as illegal leasing and unauthorized fallowing, to enhance agricultural competitiveness and strengthen trust in farmland administration.

For farmland where violations are found, Yecheon County will rigorously implement follow-up administrative measures, such as imposing an obligation to dispose of the farmland and issuing orders for restoration to the original state, after conducting a hearing process. The county emphasizes that it will go beyond simple inspections, focusing administrative resources on substantial post-survey management to restore the original function of farmland.

To ensure accurate and effective on-site inspections, the county will recruit 24 farmland surveyors. The application period runs from April 16 to April 23. After providing relevant training to those selected, the county plans to assign two surveyors to each of the 12 towns and townships. Priority will be given to local residents familiar with the area, in order to improve field understanding and the accuracy of the survey.

A Yecheon County official stated, "Farmland is a vital asset directly tied to food security and is the foundation of local agriculture. We hope that this comprehensive survey will help restore the original function of farmland and serve as an opportunity to establish a fair and transparent farmland management system." The official also encouraged, "We look forward to active interest and participation from local residents in the recruitment of surveyors."

This survey is significant in that it goes beyond a mere administrative procedure, reaffirming the public value of farmland and the sustainability of agriculture. Attention is focused on whether this measure to establish proper order in farmland ownership and use will serve as a turning point in building a sound foundation for the growth of local agriculture.

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