Woo Sang-ho: "Purchased land to build a grave, have continued farming... Not a violation of the Farmland Act"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeon Jin-young] On the 8th, Representative Woo Sang-ho, who was advised to leave the Democratic Party of Korea due to suspicions of violating the Farmland Act in the party's comprehensive real estate survey, rebutted by saying, "I cannot accept the conclusion that it was a violation of the Farmland Act."

After the announcement related to the comprehensive survey by Chief Spokesperson Ko Yong-jin, Rep. Woo released a statement saying, "The purchase of the land in question was an unavoidable event that occurred in the process of urgently securing a burial site due to my mother's sudden passing," and added, "All administrative procedures have since been fully completed."

He explained, "On June 9, 2013, my mother, who was battling cancer, suddenly passed away, and in the confusion, I began looking for land for a burial site. While urgently searching, I purchased land designated as farmland," and said, "When I inquired at Pocheon City Hall at the time, I was informed that obtaining a burial permit would take a considerable amount of time, so I was advised to temporarily bury and then obtain development permission."

Regarding cultivation, he stated, "Since 2013, I have continuously farmed the land," and added, "Two-thirds of the entire land is planted with apple trees, plum trees, and jujube trees, while the remaining one-third is used to cultivate corn, soybeans, cabbage, radish, chives, green onions, and sweet potatoes."

Rep. Woo emphasized, "I regularly grow crops with my family, make kimchi every year with the harvested produce, and share some of the harvest annually with nearby acquaintances," and stressed, "It is a fact known to the village head and neighboring residents that farming is conducted on the land."

He further explained, "Not only was the farmland not purchased for speculative purposes, but I have also been diligently farming it since the purchase," and clarified, "Considering the urgent purchase of the farmland for my mother's burial site and the continuous farming thereafter, I cannot accept the judgment that there is a suspicion of violating the Farmland Act."