In the future, ordinary people, not just farmers or fishers, will be able to build single-family dwellings in agricultural and forestry areas. This is a policy aimed at preventing population decline in rural areas and reviving the local economy.
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced that the amendment to the Enforcement Decree of the National Land Planning and Utilization Act was approved at the Cabinet meeting on the 24th.
Accordingly, it will now be permitted for ordinary citizens, not just farmers or fishers, to build single-family dwellings in agricultural and forestry areas. In the past, the Housing Act allowed housing construction for ordinary citizens in certain areas such as agricultural protected zones, but with the amendment of the National Land Planning Act enforcement decree, any citizen will now be able to construct a single-family dwelling (with a site area of less than 1,000㎡) in agricultural and forestry areas (excluding conserved mountainous areas and agricultural promotion zones). It is estimated that about 1.4 million lots nationwide will be subject to this relaxation.
In the future, it is expected that people living in cities will find it easier to stay in rural areas on weekends and enjoy various leisure activities in the countryside. This increase in demand for returning to farming or rural living and weekend leisure is likely to grow the resident population.
However, the government excluded conserved mountainous areas and agricultural promotion zones designated for agricultural land preservation from this regulatory relaxation due to concerns about forest damage.
The limit on the building coverage ratio in agricultural industrial complexes will also be relaxed. Previously, agricultural industrial complexes were limited to a building coverage ratio of 70% regardless of the level of infrastructure, but in the future, if equipped with good infrastructure, the coverage ratio will be relaxed to 80%.
As a result, resident corporations will be able to increase production facilities without purchasing additional factory sites and secure more storage space. This is expected to stimulate local investment and job creation through corporate activities.
Additionally, a 'protected village area' will be newly introduced in rural villages. The current natural village area has allowed factories or large livestock farms to be established, which has detrimental effects on the living environment. In the newly introduced protected village area, the establishment of factories or large livestock farms will be restricted. The installation of tourism and recreation facilities such as nature experience centers will be allowed, which could become a new source of revenue for the village.
In addition, regulations related to development activities will be relaxed. Previously, it was required to obtain development activity permission when demolishing and reinstalling structures, but permission will no longer be necessary if certain conditions are met.
Furthermore, when local governments wish to change their growth management plans, they were previously required without exception to listen to residents' opinions. However, when changing growth management plans while deciding on urban or county management plans that have already heard residents' opinions, this requirement can be omitted.
This amendment to the enforcement decree of the National Land Planning Act is expected to come into effect immediately upon promulgation (with the protected village area to take effect three months after promulgation).
Lee Sang-joo, head of the National Land Urban Division at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, noted that "this amendment will provide more weekend and experiential farming opportunities for ordinary citizens in rural areas, as well as allowing various experiences such as tourism and recreation facilities, which is expected to increase the influx of people into rural areas for farming and living." He also said, "By relaxing the building coverage ratio and development activity regulations in agricultural industrial complexes, we can expect to expand regional economic activities and contribute to local jobs and investments."