Gyeonggi Province to Conduct Full Survey of 1.22 Million Farmland Parcels Acquired Since 1996

Gyeonggi Province is launching an unprecedented, large-scale investigation into farmland ownership and usage, a move driven by a clear mandate to curb rampant speculation and reinforce the fundamental principle of 'farming ownership' – that land should be owned and worked by actual farmers. This initiative, targeting over 1.22 million parcels acquired since 1996, reflects a serious commitment from provincial authorities to address the growing concerns that farmland is increasingly becoming a speculative asset, driving up prices and making genuine farming inaccessible.

The investigation, set to commence in May, will meticulously scrutinize all aspects of farmland law violations. This includes identifying instances of illegal ownership, neglected or idle land, unauthorized leasing arrangements, and improper land conversion. The provincial government has explicitly stated its intention to root out 'fake farmers' and speculative forces who acquire land not for cultivation but for profit, thereby distorting the agricultural market.

This proactive stance is directly in line with President Lee Jae-myung's directive to investigate farmland use, signaling a top-down commitment to agricultural integrity. The consequences for non-compliance are stringent: violators will be ordered to sell their land immediately. Failure to comply will result in substantial enforcement fines, calculated as a significant percentage of the land's assessed value annually, until the disposal order is met. This rigorous approach aims to send a clear message that speculative practices in the agricultural sector will not be tolerated, and that the province is dedicated to ensuring farmland serves its intended purpose.