The South Korean government has announced plans to allow the use of rural temporary shelters on farmland to extend beyond their current 12-year maximum limit. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEOUL, Oct. 30 (Korea Bizwire) – The South Korean government has announced plans to allow the use of rural temporary shelters on farmland to extend beyond their current 12-year maximum limit, marking a significant shift in rural housing policy.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs revealed on October 29 that it would amend the Enforcement Decree and Regulations of the Farmland Act, with a legislative notice period running until December 9.
Under the new regulations, local governments can permit continued use of these shelters beyond the initial 12-year period through municipal ordinances, provided they don’t compromise safety or harm the rural landscape.
The current system requires renewal every three years, allowing for up to four renewals to reach the 12-year limit.
These rural temporary shelters, designed to boost rural population, are limited to 33 square meters in size and can be built on farmland without special conversion permits.
Additional features such as decks, septic tanks, and parking spaces can be installed separately from the main structure’s area. The total site area must be at least twice the combined area of the shelter and its auxiliary facilities.
Unlike traditional farm shacks, which are limited to 20 square meters, these shelters permit overnight stays. However, shelter owners must engage in farming activities since the structures are built on agricultural land.
The ministry has also established specific location requirements for the shelters. They must be accessible via rural roads designated under the Rural Roads Maintenance Act or roads suitable for emergency vehicles.
Installation is prohibited in disaster prevention districts and areas at risk of collapse. Fire safety measures, including mandatory installation of fire extinguishers and standalone alarm detectors, are required.
Looking ahead, the ministry plans to allow existing farm shacks meeting certain criteria to be converted into these rural shelters within three years of the enforcement decree’s promulgation.
Future plans include enabling local governments to develop and lease shelter complexes and permitting shelter construction in designated areas as regular buildings, with related amendments to the Farmland Act expected by year’s end.
The amendment also addresses vertical farming facilities, allowing their installation in smart farming and rural specialization districts without land conversion procedures. The maximum temporary use period for vertical farming structures was previously extended from eight to 16 years in July.
Additional changes include permitting agricultural supply stores in agricultural promotion zones and revising procedures for farmland improvement reporting, penalty standards for failing to report land category changes, and farmland management planning.
“We plan to swiftly develop comprehensive reforms to the farmland system by the end of the year to ensure rational land use,” said Yoon Won-sup, director of agricultural policy at the ministry.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
