"Jeonnam's Land Area Expands by the Equivalent of 168 Soccer Fields"

12,364 Square Kilometers of Land as of Last Year
Decrease in Forests and Farmland, Increase in Industrial Complexes and Other Uses

Mokpo New Port Hinterland Complex, one of the areas with increased land area in Jeonnam Province. Provided by Jeonnam Province

Jeonnam Province announced that as of the end of 2025, its land area has been finalized at 12,364 square kilometers, encompassing 5.93 million parcels. This represents an increase of 1.2 square kilometers compared to the previous year, equivalent to 168 times the size of a soccer field (105m × 68m).

The increase in land area appears to be due to the completion of large-scale reclamation projects, such as the sixth phase of the Muan Oryong District housing development and the creation of the Mokpo New Port Hinterland Complex. Jeonnam's land area accounts for 12.3% of the national territory, making it the third largest among all metropolitan areas in the country.

By city and county, Haenam (1,045 square kilometers), Suncheon (911 square kilometers), and Goheung (807 square kilometers) have the largest areas. Mokpo and Muan saw the largest increases over the past year, with each expanding by 0.5 square kilometers.

By land use, forests account for 56% and farmland for 26%, representing the highest proportions. However, the areas designated for roads, railways, and factories have been steadily increasing due to various development projects and the expansion of social overhead capital (SOC). These changes demonstrate, through data, that Jeonnam is transforming from a traditional agricultural and fishing center into a hub for AI-based advanced industries and an energy capital.

Jeonnam Province plans to actively utilize the finalized cadastral data as foundational information for building AI data centers and expanding renewable energy infrastructure. The data will also be transparently released to residents through the province's official website.

Moon Ingi, Director of Construction and Transportation at Jeonnam Province, stated, "Land statistics provide data that allow us to verify changes in the size and usage of the national territory in numerical terms, and are used as a basis for calculating government grants. We will actively pursue land policies for the benefit of residents, striving to protect property rights and ensure the efficient management of the national territory."