Up to 10 Million Won Fine for Abandoning Tractors and Power Tillers... Sale or Disposal Possible if Owner Unknown

Enforcement of the Amendment to the Subordinate Legislation of the Agricultural Mechanization Promotion Act on the 21st

From now on, if agricultural machinery such as tractors and cultivators are left unattended on roads or other people's land without permission, and the head of the local government issues an order for action but it is not complied with, a fine of up to 10 million KRW will be imposed.

On the 20th, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs announced that the subordinate regulations of the Agricultural Mechanization Promotion Act, which provide the basis for local government heads to issue orders for action and to sell or dispose of abandoned agricultural machinery, will be enforced starting from the 21st.

Until now, agricultural machinery abandoned on roads or others' land has caused negative effects such as damage to rural landscapes, environmental pollution from the leakage of rust and waste oil, and safety accidents, but there was no legal basis to handle privately owned agricultural machinery.

With the enforcement of this law, local government heads can issue orders for action to owners or possessors of agricultural machinery abandoned for more than two months on roads or others' land. If these orders are not complied with, fines of 5 million KRW for the first violation, 7.5 million KRW for the second, and 10 million KRW for the third can be imposed. If the orders are still not followed or if the owner or possessor of the abandoned agricultural machinery cannot be identified, the machinery may be sold or disposed of after a certain period.

In addition, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs plans to promote the 'Early Retirement Support Project for Old Agricultural Machinery' to prevent rural environmental pollution and protect the health and safety of farmers.

Lee Sang-man, Director of Agricultural Innovation Policy at the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, said, "Including this amendment to the law, we will continue to improve systems and provide budget support to protect the rural environment and the safety of farmers."