Ganghwa County to Conduct Farmland Usage Survey Until November

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Seo Dong-young] Ganghwa County will conduct a farmland usage survey for three months from this month through November to update farmland records and implement efficient farmland management.

The farmland usage survey is a regular annual inspection conducted to prevent the ownership of farmland for purposes other than agricultural management and to establish the constitutional principle of owner-cultivation, thereby ensuring the continuous use and preservation of farmland.

The survey targets all newly acquired farmland within five years (August 1, 2015 to July 30, 2020)—an expanded scope beyond last year's full survey criteria (farmland acquired within three years)—totaling 16,402 parcels and 25.49 million square meters. The survey also covers illegally leased farmland, farmland owned by residents of other cities or counties acquired after 1996, farmland owned by agricultural corporations, and farmland that was detected for illegal conversion but has completed restoration.

If the farmland usage survey finds that the land is not being used for its intended acquisition purpose and is instead left fallow or abandoned, or if illegal matters such as private lease arrangements are detected, an obligation to dispose of the farmland will be issued following a hearing process in accordance with farmland law.

When a farmland disposal obligation is issued, farmland conversion is restricted, and the owner must either directly manage the land or dispose of it to another party if unable to manage it themselves. If the farmland disposal obligation is not fulfilled, a farmland disposal order will be reissued for six months, and if this is not complied with, an enforcement fine equivalent to 20% of the public notice price will be imposed annually.

A county official stated, "We will continue to manage farmland to ensure it is used for its intended agricultural purpose and is not made a target for speculation by non-farmers."

Meanwhile, the county issued farmland disposal obligations for 168 people and 19 hectares that were identified through a full survey of farmland acquired from 2017 to 2019, and is taking measures including farmland disposal orders and enforcement fine assessments according to farmland disposal procedures.