Democratic Party leader Kim Min-seok tells Anseong farmers not to fear farmland survey
In short
Democratic Party leader Kim Min-seok (김민석) visited Anseong, Gyeonggi Province, on October 8, harvesting rice and meeting local farmers amid rural discontent over the government's full survey of farmland. He said the survey aims to correct clear speculation and normalise farming, that farmers unconnected to speculation need not worry about penalties, and that it would be made easy and simple. Kyunghyang Shinmun reported the government decided the same day that customary leasing and fallowing would not face disposal even without entrusting land to the Farmland Bank.
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Kim Min-seok (김민석), leader of the ruling Democratic Party, visited Anseong, Gyeonggi Province, on October 8, harvesting rice and meeting local farmers as discontent over the government's full survey of farmland grew in rural areas. He told reporters the survey "started with the aim of correcting clear speculation while normalising farmland and the farming situation overall" and that this aim would be kept. He said farmers unconnected to speculation who farm land inherited from their parents, or leave land fallow because they have no choice, need not worry about being penalised, and that the survey would be adjusted to be easy and simple. [ 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 ]
According to Kyunghyang Shinmun, Kim said the survey expanded on checks of 10 to 15 percent made each year, and that the party and government were checking whether its goals had been unclear in implementation. The paper reported that the government decided the same day that customary leasing and fallowing of farmland would not be subject to disposal even if the land is not entrusted to the Farmland Bank. [ 9 ]
The survey began in May, and farmers have feared the government wants their land and that tenant farmers would be caught up, Chosun Ilbo reported. At a consultation on September 21, the party and government agreed to defer forced disposal of non-speculative leased or fallow land entrusted to the Farmland Bank. News that the government is reviewing joining the CPTPP has added fears of falling farm prices. Hankook Ilbo reported that President Lee Jae-myung told ministries not to apply for CPTPP membership this year, and Kukmin Ilbo reported that Kim took a cautious stance on joining. [ 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 ]
Kim wore boots, cut rice with a sickle for about seven minutes, Kyunghyang Shinmun reported, and drove a combine harvester. The meeting at the Miyang-myeon administrative welfare centre was attended by Vice Agriculture Minister Kim Jong-gu (김종구), Seo Sam-seok (서삼석), chair of the National Assembly agriculture committee, and Yun Jun-byeong (윤준병), the party's secretary on the committee. Kim thanked farmers and promised policies that respect their pride in their work. Before the visit, he said on the party's YouTube channel that the issue had lately been exaggerated, causing misunderstanding. [ 6 , 7 , 9 ]
Asked about his pledge at the August 17 party convention to raise the party's approval rating by 10 percentage points within 100 days, Kim said more than 50 days remained and the party was "in a process of change to stop the decline." He said a basic set-up including task forces was done and the party's direction would be shown in one or two months. He said he had delayed a press conference and would have a chance to discuss the budget and party policy after the parliamentary audit. Chosun Ilbo and Seoul Economic Daily put his time in office at 53 days, Hankook Ilbo at 54. [ 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]
A senior ruling-party lawmaker told Kyunghyang Shinmun that the Farmland Act, which allows non-farmers to own farmland, fundamentally conflicts with the survey's aim, and that the government's announcement may be only a stopgap. [ 9 ]
Why it matters
Several outlets reported that the farmland survey, under way since May, and news of a government review of joining the CPTPP have stirred farmers' discontent with the government and ruling party. Kim's assurances and the government's changed rules on leased and fallow land address that unrest, though a senior ruling-party lawmaker quoted by Kyunghyang Shinmun said the changes may be only a stopgap.
Key facts
- Kim Min-seok, leader of the Democratic Party, visited Anseong, Gyeonggi Province, on October 8, joined a rice harvest and met local farmers. [ 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 ]
- Kim said the full farmland survey started with the aim of correcting clear speculation and normalising farmland and the farming situation. [ 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 ]
- Kim said farmers unconnected to speculation who farm inherited land or leave land fallow out of necessity need not worry about penalties. [ 4 , 5 , 7 , 8 ]
- Kim said the survey would be adjusted so it is carried out easily and simply. [ 4 , 5 , 7 , 8 , 9 ]
- At a consultation on September 21, the party and government agreed to defer disposal of non-speculative leased or fallow land entrusted to the Farmland Bank. [ 6 , 7 , 9 ]
- Kyunghyang Shinmun reported the government decided on October 8 that customary leasing and fallowing would not face disposal even without entrustment to the Farmland Bank. [ 9 ]
- On his pledge to raise party approval by 10 percentage points within 100 days, Kim said more than 50 days remained and the party was in a process of change to stop the decline. [ 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Kim visited Anseong on October 8, cut rice with a sickle and drove a combine harvester. [ 4 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 ]
- Kim said the survey started with the aim of correcting clear speculation and normalising farmland and farming. [ 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 ]
- Kim said farmers not involved in speculation need not worry about being penalised. [ 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 ]
- The farmland survey began in May. [ 6 , 7 ]
- The party and government held a consultation on September 21 that deferred disposal of non-speculative leased or fallow land entrusted to the Farmland Bank. [ 6 , 7 , 9 ]
- News that the government is reviewing joining the CPTPP has added to farmers' concerns about falling farm prices. [ 5 , 7 , 8 ]
- Kim said that in one or two months the party could show which direction it would take under its new leadership. [ 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]
- Before the visit, Kim said on the party's YouTube channel 'Minjudang TV' that the issue had lately been exaggerated, causing misunderstanding and concern. [ 6 , 7 ]
Still unclear
- How many days Kim has been in office. Chosun Ilbo and Seoul Economic Daily say October 8 was his 53rd day; Hankook Ilbo says his 54th.
- Whether the farmers' meeting came before or after the rice harvest. Kyunghyang Shinmun says Kim went to the paddy after the meeting; Hankook Ilbo says the meeting followed the harvest.
- The government's October 8 change exempting customary leasing and fallowing from disposal without entrustment. Only Kyunghyang Shinmun gives this detail; Hankook Ilbo says only that the government set exception criteria.
- President Lee Jae-myung's instruction not to apply for CPTPP membership this year. Reported only by Hankook Ilbo.
- Kim's position on joining the CPTPP. Kukmin Ilbo says he took a cautious stance but quotes no remark on it.
- Whether the government's changes resolve farmers' concerns. An unnamed senior ruling-party lawmaker told Kyunghyang Shinmun they may be only a stopgap.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Kukmin Ilbo reports Kim's Anseong visit and his remarks on the farmland survey. [ 4 ]
- Yonhap reports Kim telling farmers not to worry about the farmland survey. [ 5 ]
- Kyunghyang Shinmun reports the government's same-day decision on customary leasing and fallow land. [ 9 ]
- Korea Economic Daily runs a photo of Kim at a harvest site. [ 10 ]