We examined the old land registries and certified copies of the registry for land classified as "enemy property" located in Jung-gu and Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul.
The initial owners listed on the land are Japanese names such as Daeguk Yong and Gilhagusimokbonsamryang.
The Korea Asset Management Corporation (KAMCO) is entrusted with managing or disposing of such "enemy property," which belongs to the state.
Regarding "enemy property," the state must either sell or lease it to private individuals, or collect compensation fees in cases of unauthorized occupation.
However, according to data obtained by SBS, a staggering 62% of the 1,026 parcels of enemy property under entrusted management were found to be in a "use-restricted" state with no economic utilization.
The problem is that investigations and recovery efforts regarding enemy property are often delayed, leaving many parcels neglected.
While KAMCO is required to conduct on-site inspections of enemy property and manage the registries at least once a year, its actual inspection compliance rate has hovered in the 30% range each year.
Furthermore, if private individuals occupy the land without authorization for 20 years, the government loses its ownership rights. Therefore, lease contracts should be signed or compensation fees levied beforehand to interrupt the statute of limitations, but even this is not being properly enforced.
The number of unauthorized occupied enemy properties currently identified by KAMCO stands at 64 parcels, and the collection rate for compensation fees imposed over the past 5 years was confirmed to be at a mere 20% level.
KAMCO recently lost 16 lawsuits regarding ownership related to vested properties such as enemy properties, and 5 of those cases were lost because the statute of limitations for adverse possession—meaning 20 years had passed—was recognized.
[Kim Yong-man / Member, National Assembly Political Affairs Committee (Democratic Party of Korea): Even though managing our national assets could be achieved with just a single notice, such losses to the national treasury are occurring.]
As the occupation statute of limitations continues to fill up for remaining properties, there are concerns that a significant number of parcels could potentially be lost to private ownership through defeat in future lawsuits, highlighting an urgent need for active management of enemy property.
Reported by Ha Jeong-yeon | Produced by Lee Se-young | Video by Kim Se-gyeong | Video Editing by Won Hyeong-hee | Graphics by Kim Ye-ji | Produced by SBS Digital News
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