(Seoul = Yonhap News) Reporter Kim Nam-kwon and Ahn Jeong-hoon = Following the reform of the real estate tax system and the obligation to live in the land transaction permit zone (Toheo zone), the Democratic Party of Korea will also begin to supplement the government's complete survey of farmland on the 17th.
After the government's investigation, the People Power Party went on the offensive, highlighting the frame of 'plunder of farmers' land' based on the dissatisfaction of farmers' sentiments in rural areas, and it appears to be taking action ahead of the Chuseok holiday, when public sentiment is in great exodus.
On the 21st, the Party's Agricultural and Marine Water Management Committee will hold a party-government conference to check the progress of the complete farmland survey.
At the meeting, in addition to sharing farmland survey results, supplementary measures related to farmland disposal and performance enforcement fees are expected to be discussed.
From the party, Rep. Yoon Jun-byeong, secretary of the Democratic Party of Korea, and members of the National Assembly's Agriculture, Food, Rural Affairs, Oceans and Fisheries Committee, and from the government, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Song Mi-ryeong will attend.
Previously, the government and local governments conducted a basic survey to confirm administrative information on 1.36 million ha of farmland acquired after January 1, 1996 from May 18 to July 31 in accordance with the amendment to the Farmland Act, which focuses on conducting a complete farmland survey and strengthening farmland disposal orders.
As a result of the investigation, the government announced that 2.84 million lots, or 27.0% of the total, were classified as farmland suspected of violating the Farmland Act, such as illegal leases or unauthorized fallow land.
If farmland is not disposed of without a justifiable reason even after receiving a disposition order, 25% of the appraised value or publicly announced land price, whichever is higher, must be paid as a enforcement fee.
After the government's announcement, farmers raised concerns about plummeting farmland prices and forced compliance fees.
The goal of the farmland survey was to implement the principle of 'farming is owned by those who farm', eradicating farmland speculation, and supporting farmers' efficient use of farmland. However, there are concerns about side effects such as worsening public opinion among farmers, so the party is in dire need of measures.
In relation to this, Policy Committee Chairman Kwon Chil-seung said at the policy coordination meeting that day, "It is true that there are some farmers who are experiencing inconvenience due to the complete farmland survey."
He continued, "It is desirable to use the results of the investigation to punish obvious farmland speculation, as was originally intended, and to promote minor violations of laws due to routine use of farmland in rural areas through guidance and system improvement." He added, "I hope the government will quickly prepare measures so that the farmland investigation project can be promoted in this direction."
The Democratic Party decided to respond resolutely to the strengthening of the People Power Party's offensive using a complete survey of farmland, saying, 'The Lee Jae-myung administration is plundering farmers' land at low prices.'
Chairman Kwon said, “We issue a stern warning to the People Power Party’s continued distortion of facts and unreasonable sophistry,” and urged, “Representative Jang Dong-hyuk is creating anxiety among farmers and misleading government policies with sophistry such as that the government is turning farmers into speculators and taking away farmland. I hope it stops immediately.”
Previously, the Democratic Party led government measures to partially alleviate the tax burden on non-resident single-home owners in the real estate tax reform plan, and proposed and implemented an additional one-year postponement of the actual residence obligation applied to home buyers in land transaction permit zones.
