# South Korean farmland investigation and reform > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/south-korean-farmland-investigation-and-reform > Updated: 2026-09-23T02:26:09.000Z. Sources: 14. Developments: 2. The South Korean government has initiated a nationwide investigation into farmland, identifying approximately 2.84 million parcels of land—roughly 300,000 hectares—as suspected of violating the Farmland Act. Agriculture Minister Song Mi-ryung clarified that these findings represent suspected cases of unauthorized fallow land or illegal leasing rather than confirmed violations. Officials stated that the investigation aims to distinguish between malicious land speculation and customary violations resulting from an aging farming population, inheritance, or traditional leasing practices. To address these findings, the government and the Democratic Party have proposed several follow-up measures. These include extending the rectification period for lease violations until November 15 and utilizing the Farmland Bank to help owners avoid mandatory land disposal. The ministry also intends to modernize the 30-year-old Farmland Act through legislative revisions and special acts to legalize certain non-serious conversions and implement retroactive approval processes. ## Timeline ### 2026-09-23: South Korean Agriculture Minister seeks Farmland Act reform after investigation flags 300,000 hectares South Korean Agriculture Minister Song Mi-ryung stated that suspected farmland law violations in 300,000 hectares should be used as a catalyst to reform outdated regulations rather than as a basis for immediate 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/south-korean-agriculture-minister-seeks-farmland-act-reform-after-investigation-flags-300000-hectare ### 2026-09-21: South Korean government announces farmland investigation follow-up measures South Korea's government announced measures to distinguish between land speculation and customary farming violations during a nationwide farmland investigation, offering relief for elderly and inherited land. 14 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/south-korea-to-punish-farmland-speculation-while-normalizing-customary-violations --- Cite as: South Korean farmland investigation and reform. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/south-korean-farmland-investigation-and-reform