Politics · South Korea · 5 hrs ago
South Korean farmers challenge Lee over land survey and trade pact
South Korean farmers are at odds with President Lee Jae Myung over a nationwide survey of farmland and possible entry into a Pacific trade pact.
The government says the survey is needed to understand how farmland is being used, but farmers fear it could lead to orders to sell land they cannot currently cultivate.
Lee has linked unused farmland to speculation and called for penalties, while some elderly farmers may leave land fallow because of age or illness.
The dispute centres on whether officials can distinguish struggling farmers from speculators and how they would decide.
South Korea’s possible membership in the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership adds to farmers’ concerns because joining could carry costs for agriculture.
At a town hall, Lee did not resolve the disagreement, and farmers remain suspicious of the government’s intentions.
The dispute has contributed to pressure on Lee’s approval ratings, while the government’s next steps on the survey and the trade pact remain unclear.
South Korean farmers remain suspicious of the government’s nationwide farmland survey and fear they could be ordered to sell their land.
President Lee Jae Myung tried to reassure farmers at a town hall meeting, but his explanation of the survey was described as evasive.
The survey is intended to assess how farmland is being used, but the controversy centres on its purpose and how authorities may penalise landowners.
Lee has also faced questions over South Korea’s possible accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, which could affect farmers.
The dispute has added to concerns about Lee’s approval ratings, which fell in Seoul and the Chungcheong region between June and October.
- Who
- President Lee Jae Myung and South Korean farmers.
- What
- Farmers are challenging the government over a nationwide farmland survey and possible accession to the CPTPP.
- When
- Lee raised the survey at a Cabinet meeting on Feb. 24. He later discussed it with farmers at a town hall meeting on a Monday; the date is not stated.
- Where
- South Korea. The town hall location is not stated.
- Why
- The government says the survey is needed to assess farmland use and address abandoned land and speculative investment. Farmers fear legitimate landowners could face penalties or be forced to sell.
South Korean farmers
Lee administration
Survey purpose and penalties
South Korean farmers
Farmers fear the survey could lead to heavy penalties or orders to sell land, including for owners who cannot farm because of age or illness.
Lee administration
The administration says a nationwide assessment is needed to determine how farmland is being used and has targeted speculative investment and abandoned farmland.
Lee instructed Agriculture Minister Song Mi-ryung to consider a comprehensive farmland survey during a livestreamed Cabinet meeting.
Lee met farmers at a town hall meeting to discuss the survey and the CPTPP.
Yonhap published the editorial, dated Oct. 29, on the dispute.
- Survey
- Nationwide assessment of farmland use
- Minister
- Song Mi-ryung, agriculture minister
- Trade pact
- Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP)
- Seoul approval rating
- Fell from 48 percent in the second week of June to 31 percent in the first week of October
- Chungcheong approval rating
- Fell from 66 percent in the second week of June to 28 percent in the first week of October
What people are saying
high farmland prices made it difficult for aspiring farmers to purchase land.
it is like burning down a house to get rid of bedbugs