Ganghwa County Strengthens Management of Farmland Fill 1 Meter and Above

[Suwon Ilbo = Reporter Seo Dong-young] Ganghwa County announced on the 19th that development permission must be obtained in advance for farmland fill of 1 meter or more.

Following the 2019 amendment to the National Territory Planning Act enforcement ordinance stating that "city and county planning ordinances of metropolitan cities and provinces may separately establish measures within a 2-meter fill range," the county has continuously recommended amendments to Incheon Metropolitan City's urban planning ordinance to reflect that fill work of 1 meter or more for cultivation of crops, improvement of soil quality, and enhancement of farmland productivity would be subject to development permission approval. The amended urban planning ordinance will be promulgated and implemented on the 23rd.

Previously, fill work within 2 meters for the purpose of improving farmland productivity was not subject to development permission approval, provided it did not affect irrigation, drainage, and farm work on adjacent lands.

Some landowners and developers exploiting this have indiscriminately carried out fill work and erected cluster-type vacation-style farm shelters, and using poor soil on the grounds that recycled soil could be used 1 meter or more below the fill surface level, causing environmental pollution and continuously raising complaints.

Ganghwa County Commissioner Yu Cheon-ho stated that "temporary structures such as farm shelters are highly vulnerable to various disasters such as fires and safety accidents," adding "we will thoroughly investigate illegal use of farm shelters and respond strictly."

Meanwhile, the county established a farmland management TF team dedicated to illegal farmland fill crackdowns last May to eliminate indiscriminate illegal fill work on quality farmland. Through intensive crackdowns, over 200 cases of legal violations have been identified, and administrative measures (restoration orders) and criminal referrals are being pursued.