Opposition lawmakers have launched a counterattack against President Lee Jae-myung's call for mandatory sale of idle farmland, demanding investigations into ruling party figures who own agricultural land.
President Lee said at a Cabinet meeting that farmland has become a target for speculation, calling for comprehensive inspections and forced sales for owners who do not actually farm their land.
Rep. Kim Jae-seop of the People Power Party posted on social media on the 25th, "President Lee usually makes careless remarks about real estate, but this time he made a good point." He urged the government to designate Seongdong District Mayor Jung Won-oh as the first target of investigation.
"According to the Official Gazette and registry documents, District Mayor Jung purchased 600 pyeong of rice paddies and fields at ages 0 and 2, before he could even walk," Kim said. "A newborn could not have held a hoe, and it is highly unlikely he personally cultivated the land during his decades as an aide and district mayor."
Kim noted that exceptions apply if land is entrusted to the Korea Rural Community Corporation or farmed by direct descendants, but "District Mayor Jung appears to meet neither condition."
He emphasized the need to investigate "whether District Mayor Jung actually farmed the land himself or through delegation, or whether he is exactly the kind of 'speculator' President Lee described—someone who buys farmland and pretends to farm."
Kim added that if the farmland law violation allegations prove true, "it should not end with a land sale but lead to a criminal investigation."
Rep. Joo Jin-woo of the People Power Party raised additional allegations and demanded comprehensive investigations into ruling party figures.
"Rep. Kim Jae-seop demanded that District Mayor Jung be designated as investigation target No. 1," Joo wrote on social media. "Let me also inform you of targets No. 2 through 5."
He stated, "Minister Han Sung-sook owns 550 pyeong of farmland in Yangpyeong, Gyeonggi Province. She could not have cultivated it while serving as Naver CEO." He added, "Deputy Prime Minister for Economy Koo Yoon-cheol's spouse purchased 300 pyeong of farmland in Muan, South Jeolla Province. Did they farm rice paddies 318 kilometers from their home by telepathy?"
Joo also claimed, "Minister Chung Dong-young falsely registered his residence to acquire farmland in Sunchang, North Jeolla Province," and "Minister Jung Eun-kyung's spouse, a doctor, owns 1,660 pyeong in Pyeongchang, Gangwon Province. Self-cultivation from Incheon is impossible."
President Lee rebutted the criticism, saying the mandatory sale order "does not refer to inherited farmland or land inevitably left fallow due to old age after years of farming."
He emphasized that it refers to "farmland acquired for speculative purposes by submitting farming plans claiming intent to farm, only to leave it idle or lease it out after purchase." He added, "If someone deceives authorities to acquire farmland and then does not farm it, the land should be disposed of according to law, respecting the constitutional principle that farmland belongs to those who cultivate it."