Gyeonggi Provincial Special Judicial Police Uncover Large-Scale Illegal Activities in Greenbelt Areas

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Park No-hun] The Gyeonggi Provincial Special Judicial Police have uncovered numerous land owners and business operators engaged in illegal activities in greenbelt areas, such as operating unlicensed warehouse rental businesses and illegally dumping waste.

The Gyeonggi Provincial Special Judicial Police announced on the 10th that they investigated 300 locations suspected of illegal activities in the province's greenbelt areas from May 24 to June 4, indicting 63 cases including unauthorized construction, illegal use changes, and illegal land alteration.

The violations by type are as follows: ▲unauthorized construction without permits, 28 cases (44%) ▲illegal use changes of buildings, 19 cases (30%) ▲illegal land alteration including unauthorized clearing of forests or unauthorized cutting and filling of land, 13 cases (21%) ▲illegal stockpiling of waste, 3 cases (5%).

Looking at major cases, Mr. A from Goyang received permission to place containers on mixed-use land but illegally installed 118 containers and operated a warehouse rental business, collecting monthly rental fees of 160,000 to 200,000 won per container.

Mr. A was found to have obtained unlawful gains of 220 to 280 million won over approximately one year.

Mr. B from Hwaseong illegally felled 9,200 square meters of forest land—1.3 times the area of a soccer field—without permission in 2018 and installed structures, causing large-scale forest damage through illegal land alteration.

Mr. C from Namyangju received authorization for a 996 square-meter animal and plant-related facility in March 2020 but was caught illegally converting the use to a logistics warehouse.

Mr. D from Goyang operated a scrap metal yard on his own farmland without permission and was apprehended after illegally dumping approximately 1,000 cubic meters of waste.

Gyeonggi Province has indicted all offenders and plans to request administrative measures from the relevant cities and counties.

The province plans to continue investigating the elimination of illegal activities in greenbelt areas and unfair practices.

Under the 'Special Measures Act on Designation and Management of Greenbelt Areas,' engaging in construction or use change of buildings, land alteration, or accumulation of materials without permits or in violation of permit contents may result in imprisonment for not more than one year or a fine of not more than 10 million won.

For-profit or habitual illegal activities may result in imprisonment for not more than three years or a fine of not more than 30 million won.

Yoon Tae-wan, Head of the Gyeonggi Provincial Special Judicial Police, said, "The elimination of unfair practices in greenbelt areas has significant public value in preventing disorderly urban expansion and conserving the natural environment, so we will continue investigations," and added, "We will consult with relevant departments such as cities and counties and will respond firmly against habitual offenders going forward."