The government has decided to exclude five types of farmland, including inherited farmland and land owned by elderly farmers, from the disposal process of the ongoing complete farmland investigation.

During a briefing at the Government Complex Sejong today (Oct. 8), Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Song Mi-ryung stated, "We will pursue the enactment of a special measure law to ensure that general cases, rather than speculation, do not proceed with disposal procedures under the Farmland Act based on the results of this investigation."

Minister Song explained, "This means that even if parts that do not align with current Farmland Act regulations are identified in the investigation, we will block them from leading to disposal procedures through a special law that takes precedence over the Farmland Act."

The types to be excluded from disposal slated for inclusion in the special measure law are inherited farmland; farmland rented out through traditional practices or by elderly farmers; farmland with complex ownership relations such as those owned by clans, temples, or un-registered inheritances; landlocked farmland and farmland difficult to farm; and unauthorized facilities such as agricultural warehouses.

Minister Song noted, "Regardless of whether they consign the land to the Farmland Bank, such general cases will not undergo disposal procedures, and we will allow farmers to choose to lease or sell to the Farmland Bank if they wish."

She further emphasized, "Unless it is a clear speculative act, our basic direction is not to force the disposal of farmland or impose compliance penalties because of the results of this investigation."

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and the Democratic Party of Korea plan to propose the special measure law this month and pursue its enactment so that the parliamentary process can be completed by December.

(File Photo: Yonhap News)