The government is reportedly pushing to establish a temporary organization dedicated to conducting the country's first nationwide complete investigation of farmland.

According to officials from the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, discussions are underway to launch the Farmland Investigation and Institutional Improvement Promotion Team in early September, which will include a temporary division-level body called the Farmland Investigation Division.

This move effectively elevates the existing farmland investigation task force under the Farmland Division into a separate division.

The head of the promotion team will be concurrently held by the Director General for Agricultural Policy. The Farmland Investigation Division will be composed of 14 personnel, including 8 regular staff members and 6 dispatched workers. The dispatched personnel are expected to include individuals from the National Agricultural Products Quality Management Service, local governments, and the Korea Rural Community Corporation who previously assisted the task force.

The nationwide complete investigation of farmland was pursued for the first time in history following a directive issued by President Lee Jae-myung in February to review such an investigation.

From May 18 to July 31, the government and local governments conducted a basic administrative information review targeting 1.36 million square meters of farmland acquired after January 1, 1996.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs previously announced that as a result of the investigation, 2.84 million parcels, accounting for 27.0% of the total, were classified as suspected violations of the Farmland Act.

(Photo: Yonhap News)