<기사>Decision to Deregulate Leftover Fragmented Farmland in Agricultural Promotion Areas After Development of Roads, Residential Sites, and Industrial Complexes

Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Announces Small-Scale Agricultural Promotion Area Reorganization Plan
Reorganization Plan Notified to Local Governments on 26th
Local Governments to Request Deregistration by End of June → Deregistration Decision Notified by October

The government has decided to deregulate leftover small parcels of farmland remaining after the development of roads, residential sites, and industrial complexes from agricultural promotion areas, so that they can be used for improving living conditions or attracting industries.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs announced on the 25th the "Small-scale Agricultural Promotion Area Maintenance Plan," which includes this measure to allow farmland to be utilized diversely in response to rural extinction and to revitalize the rural economy.

To use and preserve farmland efficiently, prime farmland is designated as agricultural promotion areas. However, leftover small parcels of farmland after development of roads, residential sites, and industrial complexes have lower farming efficiency compared to consolidated farmland due to limitations in scaling up farming and mechanization.

It is estimated that there are currently 21,000 hectares of leftover agricultural promotion areas nationwide. This area has generated many complaints related to deregulation so that it can be used for cultural welfare facilities, sports facilities for residents, or convenience facilities for nearby industrial complexes.

To resolve this, the government announced the small-scale agricultural promotion area maintenance plan as a detailed task for "rationalization of farmland use regulations" at the public discussion on livelihood issues held on February 21.

Subsequently, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs plans to notify local governments of the "Small-scale Agricultural Promotion Area Maintenance Plan" and hold four regional briefing sessions for local government farmland officials to ensure smooth implementation of the plan: Jeolla and Jeju (May 2), Gyeonggi and Gangwon (May 9), Chungcheong (May 14), and Gyeongsang (May 16).

If local governments submit requests to deregulate agricultural promotion areas in regions with development plans for leftover farmland by the end of June, the Ministry will review whether the farmland is leftover and the validity of the project plans, and notify the local governments of the deregulation decision by October. Afterward, local governments will complete the maintenance within the year by carrying out legal procedures such as official announcements of deregulation of agricultural promotion areas.

Meanwhile, Minister Song Mi-ryeong of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs plans to visit Seongsu-myeon, Jinan-gun, Jeonbuk, where leftover farmland deregulated from agricultural promotion areas in 2016 was systematically developed in connection with general rural development projects and county-level projects, to hold an on-site meeting on the 26th.

At this event, Minister Song will listen to field opinions from young farmers and local government officials regarding the small-scale agricultural promotion area maintenance plan, and tour facilities established on deregulated leftover farmland to improve residents' living conditions and welfare, including the Sports Sympathy Center (sports facility), the Generation Sympathy Yard (park), and a small public bathhouse.

Minister Song said, "To overcome the crisis of rural extinction caused by depopulation and aging, and to secure the sustainability of our agriculture and rural areas, it is necessary to efficiently utilize all resources that rural areas possess, including farmland," adding, "We will promote various policies to materialize this."