United Future Party: "Purchasing Farmland Cheaply and Changing Its Characteristics Is No Different from 'Speculation'"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] The United Future Party fiercely criticized the Blue House's explanation regarding the presidential residence land, stating, "Purchasing farmland at a low price and changing its use is no different from the 'speculation' that this government has been so critical of."

Kim Eun-hye, spokesperson for the United Future Party, said in a statement on the 6th, "There are many parts of the Blue House's explanation that are hard to understand."

The controversy over the presidential residence land arose after a media outlet reported that there is farmland purchased for the president's residence on which no farming is being done. In response, the Blue House explained, "The land has never been left fallow and is currently in the stage of preparing for land use changes necessary for construction."

Regarding this, Spokesperson Kim pointed out, "According to Article 6 of the Farmland Act, 'Farmland can only be owned by those who use it for their own agricultural management or intend to use it as such.' Saying 'It was purchased just a few months ago' or 'Are you telling us to farm immediately?' is not an appropriate explanation."

He added, "If, as the Blue House claims, the farmland is still being cultivated but not directly by the president, it should be clearly disclosed whether the farmland is leased or under entrusted management, and based on which provision of the Farmland Act it is being cultivated. According to yesterday's media reports, a key Blue House official said, 'A fallow application must have been filed.' If no such application was made, they must explain why their statement changed within a day."

Spokesperson Kim further criticized, "'The explanation that it is in the stage of preparing for land use changes necessary for construction' is even more problematic," adding, "It lacks specifics about what kind of land use change procedures are being undertaken. Would an ordinary citizen purchase farmland of about 600 pyeong on the premise of land use changes that have not even been decided?"

He continued, "When obtaining farmland conversion permits, the official land price itself rises. Purchasing farmland cheaply and changing its use is no different from the speculation that this government has been so critical of."