▲ People Power Party Leader Jang Dong-hyeok holds a meeting with local farmers regarding a comprehensive farmland survey at the Hanaro Mart Tangeum branch in Chungju, North Chungcheong Province, on September 30.
People Power Party (PPP) Leader Jang Dong-hyeok, along with the party leadership, visited Chungju, North Chungcheong Province, to hear farmers' concerns regarding the government's comprehensive survey of agricultural land.
"I cannot help but harbor doubts about why the president is so obsessed with a farmland survey at this point in time," Jang said, questioning, "Is there an ulterior intention to benefit a specific group?"
Holding a meeting today with representatives from farmers' organizations at the NongHyup Hanaro Mart Tangeum branch, Jang claimed, "If they conduct a comprehensive survey of farmland to generate data and then levy enforcement fines, non-farmers will be unable to purchase farmland, causing land prices to continue to plummet. And if that data falls into someone's hands, nationwide 'farmland hunting' will become possible."
He continued, "I feel that President Lee is excessively and incomprehensibly obsessed with the comprehensive farmland survey," pointing out, "If the goal is to catch speculators, all they need to do is conduct targeted crackdowns in areas where land prices are rising."
Jang emphasized, "Driving down all land prices and making it possible to look inside and see what kind of land it is will ultimately open a path for specific forces to hunt for land. It is difficult to understand for whom and for what purpose they are trying to undertake this perilous task."
Regarding President Lee's remarks at yesterday's Cabinet meeting about utilizing agricultural land for solar power facilities, Jang raised his voice: "I cannot understand what connection there is between speaking of 'farmland to the tiller' and talking about solar energy with public officials yesterday. That is why we cannot help but question the sincerity behind the comprehensive farmland survey."
PPP Policy Committee Chair Lim I-ja also criticized President Lee's solar remarks, saying, "After driving a spike into farmers' hearts with the comprehensive farmland survey, he abruptly brought up 'solar farming.' Are they trying to repeat the nightmare of the solar cartel in rural areas that was tainted by corruption and preferential treatment under the Moon Jae-in administration?"
Lim added, "While speculation must be curbed, we must provide elderly farmers with a path to stable retirement and asset disposal, and establish a foundation for tenant farmers to farm with peace of mind. We will meticulously scrutinize every single detail, including criteria for distinguishing speculation from unavoidable non-cultivation, sufficient normalization periods, purchases by the Farmland Bank, recognition of cultivation by tenant farmers, and retirement support for employed farmers."
Representative Lee Jong-bae, a five-term lawmaker representing Chungju, also raised his voice: "Would anyone speculate on farmland because there is nowhere else to speculate? It is hard to believe that they are conducting a comprehensive survey to prevent speculation. Farmland is cheaper than mountains and mixed-use land, yet because of this farmland survey, prices are hitting rock bottom."
Representatives of farmers' organizations who attended the meeting expressed their frustration, saying, "We need to at least sell our land so we do not burden our children, but since talk of the comprehensive farmland survey began, there have been no real estate transactions," and, "As we grow older, selling land serves as farmers' retirement pension and insurance, but the Farmland Bank only purchases first-grade land."
(Photo: Yonhap News)
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