Comprehensive Farmland Investigation Begins in Earnest... "AI, Satellites, and Drones Fully Mobilized"

Identifying Status of Ownership, Cultivation, and Use
Building a Farmland Database

The government's comprehensive investigation of farmland, aimed at eradicating farmland speculation, will officially begin on May 18. This investigation will utilize advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), satellites, and drones.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs announced on the 17th that, starting on this day, it will conduct a comprehensive survey with local governments to eradicate farmland speculation and build a farmland database. The full-scale investigation will be conducted over two years. This year, the survey will target farmland acquired after the enforcement of the Farmland Act (January 1996), conducting a basic survey (May to July) and an in-depth survey (August to December) in stages.

During the basic survey period (May 18 to July 31), administrative data, satellite imagery, and AI will be used to select targets for the in-depth survey. First, through the farmland register, the authorities will verify ownership and area, checking for violations related to ownership restrictions and maximum area applicable to inherited or retired farmland, agricultural corporations, general corporations, and organizations. For farmland that is directly cultivated, authorities will cross-analyze basic public direct payment information, agricultural business registration data, agricultural input purchase history, and local government support program receipts to verify whether the owner is actually cultivating the land. For leased farmland, they will check if it is registered in the farmland register or entrusted to the Korea Rural Community Corporation (Farmland Bank). Farmland suspected of violations will be classified as subjects for the in-depth survey.

Aerial and satellite photos, building registers, and AI detection data will be used to confirm whether the land is being cultivated and whether illegal structures have been installed. Authorities will first use aerial and satellite photos and AI facility detection data to check for the installation of structures on farmland. Facilities suspected of being constructed without proper procedures, such as farmland conversion permits, and which are not greenhouses, livestock sheds, or other structures allowed on farmland, will be classified as in-depth survey targets and subsequently checked on site. In particular, a pilot program will apply the Rural Development Administration’s technology for detecting long-term fallow land (abandoned farmland) using satellite information.

During the basic survey period, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs will operate a "special adjustment period for farmland lease contracts" (May 18 to July 31), encouraging the signing of written lease contracts and entrusting farmland to the Korea Rural Community Corporation (Farmland Bank). Additionally, to prepare for cases where lease relationships are unilaterally terminated to evade the comprehensive farmland investigation, an "Tenant Farmer Protection Reporting Center" will be operated. Farmland reported through the center will be classified as targets for the in-depth survey starting in August, and tenant farmers whose contracts are terminated will be given priority for farmland leased through the Farmland Bank. Additional protection measures for tenant farmers have also been established.

During the in-depth survey (August 1 to December 31), public officials and farmland surveyors will be dispatched to the field to investigate ten designated in-depth survey groups. They will check whether crops are being cultivated and inspect the installation and use of structures; for farmland that is hard to access, drones will be used. In particular, all farmland in Gyeonggi Province, where speculation concerns are high, will be photographed by drone. If illegal leases are suspected or reported, the authorities will conduct interviews in cooperation with members of the Farmland Committee and village chiefs, while also verifying actual cultivation and compliance with agricultural business plans through documents such as agricultural input purchase records and crop sales records.

Yoon Wonseup, Director General for Agricultural Policy at the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, stated, "The comprehensive farmland investigation is more than just a fact-finding exercise; it is the first step toward eradicating farmland speculation and establishing data-driven, systematic farmland policies." He also requested the proactive cooperation of field farmers.

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