Politics · South Korea · 6 hrs ago
Minister nominee faces questions over container on farmland
Opposition lawmaker Joo Jin-woo accused justice minister nominee Lee Yong-cheol of breaking rules over land in Gwangju, Gyeonggi Province.
Joo said Lee put a container on the farmland without permission and inaccurately declared it in his public property records.
He also questioned whether Lee bought the land to farm, noting that Lee was running a law office when he acquired it in 2021.
South Korea’s rules say farmland should be owned by people who farm it themselves.
Lee’s team says he bought the land for weekend farming and grows crops there with his family.
It says the container is a farm shed for storing supplies and was properly reported and used.
The dispute raises questions about farmland rules and Lee’s property disclosures as he is considered for justice minister, but no further steps are specified.
An opposition lawmaker accused Justice Minister nominee Lee Yong-cheol of illegally placing a container on farmland in Gwangju, Gyeonggi Province, and making a false property declaration.
The lawmaker said Lee bought the farmland in May 2021 for 70 million won and that no building is listed on a Korea Land and Housing Corporation property map.
Lee’s confirmation-preparation team said he bought the land for weekend farming and grows crops there with his family.
The team said the container is a farm shed used to store agricultural supplies and was properly reported under relevant laws.
The lawmaker questioned whether Lee personally farmed the land and said its use needed investigation.
- Who
- Justice Minister nominee Lee Yong-cheol and opposition lawmaker Joo Jin-woo.
- What
- Joo alleged that Lee illegally installed a container on farmland and falsely declared property. Lee’s team said the container was properly reported and used to store farming supplies.
- When
- The allegations and response were reported on November 9, 2026.
- Where
- Farmland in Bonghyeon-ri, Gwangju, Gyeonggi Province.
- Why
- Joo questioned whether Lee bought the farmland for speculation rather than farming. Lee’s team said it was acquired for weekend farming.
Joo Jin-woo
Lee Yong-cheol’s confirmation-preparation team
Container and declaration
Joo Jin-woo
Joo alleged that Lee installed a container illegally and falsely reported the property as including a building and land with an animal-and-plant-related facility.
Lee Yong-cheol’s confirmation-preparation team
The team said the container is a farm shed for storing agricultural supplies and was properly reported and used under relevant laws.
Purpose and farming
Joo Jin-woo
Joo questioned whether Lee could have farmed the land himself and said it might have been bought for speculation.
Lee Yong-cheol’s confirmation-preparation team
The team said Lee bought the land for weekend farming and grows crops there with his family.
Joo said Lee bought a country house and adjoining land.
Joo said Lee gave the house and adjoining land to his child.
Lee bought the farmland for 70 million won, according to Joo.
Joo publicly raised the allegations, and Lee’s confirmation-preparation team responded.
- Farmland location
- Bonghyeon-ri, Gwangju, Gyeonggi Province
- Farmland purchase
- May 2021
- Purchase price
- 70 million won
- Alleged structure
- One container
- Prior property purchase
- Country house and adjoining land bought in 2016 and given to Lee’s child in 2020, according to Joo
1 source
What people are saying
Lee illegally installed one container on farmland in Bonghyeon-ri, Gwangju, Gyeonggi Province, violating the Building Act, and falsely reported it as “building and land” with an animal-and-plant-related facility when registering his assets as head of the Defense Acquisition Program Administration.
When could he have farmed the land himself?
He acquired the farmland for weekend farming and grows crops with his family.
The container is a farm shed installed to store agricultural supplies, and it has been reported and used lawfully under the relevant laws.