**’Directive for Forced Sale of Speculated Farmlands’ Dispute**
President Lee Jae-myung sparked controversy on February 25th after calling for the forced sale of farmlands acquired for speculative purposes. He stated that some have misunderstood the principle of “land to the tiller” and are likening his directive to communism. During a cabinet meeting on the 24th, President Lee highlighted that farmlands are becoming targets for real estate speculation and instructed an investigation and consideration of forced sale measures.
On the morning of the 25th, President Lee took to X (formerly Twitter) to clarify, stating, “The law clearly dictates the procedure for ordering sales if one does not farm the land themselves.” The current Constitution, revised in 1987, mandates the state to strive for the principle of “land to the tiller,” prohibiting tenant farming. According to the Farmland Act, local authorities can order the disposal of farmland within six months if holders falsely submit farming plans or unjustifiably do not cultivate the land.
President Lee referenced former President Syngman Rhee when discussing land reforms, noting that despite criticism against Rhee for various reasons, his achievements in land distribution are commendable. He further elaborated that Rhee, often criticized by conservatives, was not a “red communist.” President Lee clarified that the sales order targets farmland that is left idle or leased after being acquired for speculative purposes, not land received as an inheritance or that which is left fallow due to unavoidable circumstances like aging.
The People Power Party (PPP) called for an internal investigation, citing government officials when President Lee’s statements on selling speculative farmlands emerged. PPP lawmaker Kim Jae-seop pointed to Jeong Won-oh, chief of Seoul’s Seongdong District, who allegedly owned farmland purchased during his early childhood, saying, “Investigate Jeong ‘Farming Prodigy’ Won-oh as the first case.” Kim argued that it’s implausible for Jeong to have engaged in farming as a child, noting that for decades he has served as an assembly aide and district chief.
In response, Jeong stated the land was purchased by his grandparents around his birth and registered under his name as a small piece of land to farm. He explained that the land has been a “blind land” with no roads since the 1990s, making further farming impossible, dismissing the criticisms as unsubstantial political attacks. Jeong also noted that farmland acquired before 1996 is exempt from self-cultivation obligations and ownership restrictions due to the 1994 Farmland Act.
PPP lawmaker Joo Jin-woo further demanded an investigation into ministers holding farmland, suggesting names like Deputy Prime Minister Koo Yun-chul and other ministers. He claimed that considering their residences, it would have been difficult for them to personally farm their land in other regions like Gyeonggi, Jeollabuk, and Gangwon.