Goyang City Official Defends Public Property Without Attorney Against "Ancestral Land" Claim

Final Victory in Supreme Court Following First and Second Trials Over Unregistered Road Site Lawsuit
At Least KRW 690 Million in State Assets Preserved

An official from Deogyang-gu, Goyang Special City, successfully defended state-owned land in a lawsuit over a road site claimed by an individual as "ancestral land," winning not only at the first and second trial levels but also in the final Supreme Court ruling. Notably, the official handled the entire litigation without any external legal support such as attorneys, drawing attention for his efforts.

858-1 Donaedong, Deogyanggu Road. Provided by Goyang Special City

The disputed site is an unregistered public road property located at 858-1 Donaedong, Deogyang-gu, with a total area of 1,759 square meters, and is still in use as a road. The legal dispute began when an individual filed a lawsuit, asserting that the land originally belonged to their ancestor.

During the lawsuit, the Korea Land and Housing Corporation (LH) deposited funds and registered the preservation of ownership for this road. As a result of this victory, the state was able to protect at least KRW 690 million worth of public assets, which had been deposited as security.

The plaintiff retained a professional law firm and continued the lawsuit through all three trial stages. However, the Goyang city official represented the state as a party to the lawsuit, personally researching and analyzing a wide range of documents, including land registers, family relationship certificates, and ownership history. In particular, the official meticulously refuted the plaintiff's claims by reviewing civil law and case precedents, emphasizing the legal standard that the identity between the ancestor and the current registered owner must be strictly proven in cases involving "ancestral land" claims.

An official from Goyang City stated, "This is a shining example of dedication by a public servant who handled the case without legal support," and added, "This ruling will remain a milestone in the protection of public property."