Sacheon-si Implements Mandatory Installation and Operation of Farmland Committee and Application for Farmland Register Changes

To Strengthen the Qualification Review System for Farmland Acquisition and Post-Management

Mandatory Implementation of Farmland Register Change Application

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Choi Soon-kyung] Sacheon City, Gyeongnam Province announced that starting from the 18th, in accordance with the amendment of the Farmland Act, measures to prevent farmland speculation will be implemented, including the establishment and operation of a 'Farmland Committee,' the renaming of the 'Farmland Register' to 'Farmland Ledger,' and the mandatory application for changes to the Farmland Ledger when farmland usage information is modified.

The Farmland Committee will be established in seven eup/myeon areas and one dong area to strengthen the farmland acquisition qualification review system and post-management. The committee members will be composed of local farmers, nominees recommended by agricultural-related organizations, nominees recommended by non-profit private organizations, and farmland policy experts.

The main role of the Farmland Committee is to review the farmland acquisition qualification certificates. If a person intending to acquire farmland falls under the review target, they must pass the committee's review to be issued the farmland acquisition qualification certificate.

The review targets include ▲those who do not reside in Sacheon City or adjacent cities/counties and are acquiring farmland located within the jurisdiction for the first time ▲those who intend to acquire farmland shared by three or more people for one parcel ▲agricultural corporations ▲foreigners and overseas Koreans with foreign nationality ▲persons whom the mayor deems necessary to review for agricultural management capability, etc.

On the other hand, those subject to the mandatory application for changes to the Farmland Ledger include ▲when farmland lease contracts or usage contracts are concluded, changed, or terminated ▲when land improvement facilities and agricultural/livestock production facilities (such as farm sheds, fixed greenhouses, mushroom cultivation houses, livestock barns, insect breeding houses, etc.) are installed.

Farmland owners or tenants must apply for changes to the Farmland Ledger at the eup/myeon/dong administrative welfare center where the farmland is located within 60 days from the date the change occurs. Failure to apply or submitting false information will result in a fine ranging from 1 million to 5 million KRW.

A city official stated, "With the establishment and operation of the Farmland Committee, it is expected that farmland transactions will be centered on actual cultivators, thereby eradicating farmland speculation." He added, "Due to the recent conversion of the Farmland Register to the Farmland Ledger, we ask for much interest in the amendments to the Farmland Act to prevent any disadvantages caused by missing change applications."