Farmland Acquisition Certificate (농취증) in Korea: 2026 Guide
By the RuralRoof Editorial Team · Last updated 2026-10-16 · 4 official sources
A rural listing in Korea can sell a house plot with a field beside it. The house plot transfers like any property; the field does not, because it is farmland.
Buying farmland needs a farmland acquisition certificate, 농지취득자격증명 or 농취증. This guide sets out who needs it, how the application works, the tests the town office applies, and what happens if the field is not farmed.
- Anyone acquiring farmland needs the certificate from the city, town (읍) or township (면) office where the land is, except listed cases such as inheritance (Farmland Act Art. 8) [1].
- The application includes a farming plan, or a weekend-and-experience farming plan, covering area, labour and machinery, and the applicant's job, experience and distance (Art. 8(2)) [1].
- The office issues it within 7 days, 4 days where no plan is needed, or 14 days where the farmland committee reviews it (Art. 8(4)) [1].
- Farmland you do not farm as planned can trigger a duty to sell it within one year (Art. 10) [1].
What is a farmland acquisition certificate (농취증)?
A certificate from the local office confirming you are eligible to acquire a farmland parcel. Article 8 requires it of anyone acquiring farmland, and the registry needs it to register the transfer (Art. 8(1), (6)) [1].
Farmland means land actually used for crops or listed perennial plants, whatever its registered category (Art. 2) [1]. A lot recorded as 대 (building plot) but farmed in practice can count.
The certificate is checked again at registration. The buyer must attach it when applying to register ownership (Art. 8(6)) [1].
“A person who intends to acquire farmland shall obtain a farmland acquisition certificate from the head of the city, district, town or township where the farmland is located.”
Who needs one, and who does not?
Every acquirer of farmland, unless Article 8 lists an exception [1]. The exceptions cover cases where ownership arrives without a sale.
| How you acquire | Certificate? |
|---|---|
| Purchase for your own farming | Yes, with a farming plan |
| Purchase for weekend and experience farming | Yes, with a weekend farming plan |
| Inheritance (incl. bequest to an heir) | No |
| State or local government acquisition | No |
| Farmland pledged as security and taken by the creditor | No |
| Division of co-owned farmland | No |
Heirs who do not farm may keep up to 10,000 m² of inherited farmland (Art. 7(1)) [1]. A purchaser has no such allowance.
However, inherited farmland still has to be used. Article 10 can require its sale if it is neither farmed nor rented out in a way the decree recognises (Art. 10(1)4-2) [1].
What must the farming plan contain?
Four items, set by Article 8(2). The office checks that the plan is realistic for the applicant (Decree Art. 7(2)) [1] [2].
- The area to be acquired (and, for co-ownership, each share and location) [1].
- How you will secure the labour, machinery, equipment and facilities to farm it [1].
- How you use any farmland you already own [1].
- Your occupation, farming experience and the distance you will travel to farm [1].
The office keeps the plan for 10 years (Art. 8-2) [1]. In practice, that is the record the county can compare with how the land is actually used later.
What tests does the town office apply?
Decree Article 7(2) lists them. The area tests are the ones a weekend buyer meets first [2].
| Applicant | Test |
|---|---|
| Weekend and experience farmer (non-farmer) | Farmland already owned plus the new parcel must stay under 1,000 m² per household |
| New farmer, open field | Total farmed area after purchase at least 1,000 m² |
| New farmer, greenhouse or listed facility | At least 330 m² |
| New farmer, insect farm | At least 165 m² |
| Any applicant | Must not rent out or fully outsource all the farmland already owned |
Weekend and experience farming is only allowed on farmland outside agricultural promotion areas (Art. 6(2)3) [1]. Check the zone on 토지이음 before you offer [4].
How long does the certificate take?
7 days as standard, 4 days where no plan is required, and 14 days where the farmland committee (농지위원회) reviews the application (Art. 8(4)) [1].
The committee review applies to applicants listed by ministry rule, such as buyers in areas at risk of speculation (Art. 8(3)) [1]. MAFRA added foreign and foreign-national ethnic Korean buyers to that review from 18 May 2022 [3].
Applications go to the city, town or township office where the land lies, and may be filed electronically by the method the ministry sets (Decree Art. 7(1)) [2].
What happens if you do not farm the land?
The county can impose a duty to sell. Under Article 10, the owner must dispose of the farmland within one year once the county finds it is not being farmed without a valid reason [1].
The same duty applies when a weekend farmer stops weekend farming, or when an owner does not carry out the farming plan submitted for the certificate (Art. 10(1)4, 7) [1].
The county must notify the owner of the land concerned and the deadline (Art. 10(2)) [1]. Natural disasters, land improvement and illness are among the valid reasons the decree recognises (Art. 10(1)) [1].
What is the step-by-step process?
Check the land first, then apply before the balance is paid. The order below follows Articles 6 to 8 and Decree Article 7 [1] [2].
- On 토지이음, check each lot's category and whether it lies in an agricultural promotion area [4].
- Decide: own farming (1,000 m²+ total) or weekend farming (under 1,000 m² per household) [2].
- Write the farming plan with all four Article 8(2) items [1].
- Apply at the town or township office for the land, or electronically [2].
- Allow 7 days, or 14 if the committee reviews it [1].
- Attach the certificate when registering ownership [1].
Farmland is one of eight checks in the rural house checklist. Planning a shed or overnight shelter on the field? Read the 농막 and shelter guide, or browse rural listings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a 농취증 to buy a rural house in Korea?
Only for the farmland parts of the sale. The house plot (대) needs none, but any field that is farmland in law needs a certificate (Farmland Act Arts. 2, 8) [1].
How long does a farmland acquisition certificate take?
7 days as standard, 4 days without a plan, or 14 days with a farmland committee review (Art. 8(4)) [1].
Can a non-farmer buy farmland in Korea?
Yes, for weekend and experience farming outside agricultural promotion areas, keeping the household total under 1,000 m² (Arts. 6, 7; Decree Art. 7) [1] [2].
Do heirs need a 농취증?
No. Inheritance is one of the listed exceptions, and non-farming heirs may keep up to 10,000 m² of inherited farmland (Arts. 7, 8) [1].
What if I stop farming the land?
The county can require you to sell it within one year unless a valid reason such as illness or a natural disaster applies (Art. 10) [1].
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General information, checked against the official sources below on the date shown. No sponsored content: no office, organization, agent or seller named here paid for or reviewed this page. Rules change, so confirm with the office named or a specialist (a licensed agent or a lawyer) before you sign.
Sources
- [1]농지법 (Farmland Act), Arts. 2, 6, 7, 8, 8-2, 10 (in force 2026-09-18) · Korea Ministry of Government Legislation (law.go.kr) · accessed 2026-10-16
- [2]농지법 시행령 (Farmland Act Enforcement Decree), Art. 7 (in force 2026-09-18) · Korea Ministry of Government Legislation (law.go.kr) · accessed 2026-10-16
- [3]Farmland acquisition review tightened, incl. 농지위원회 review for foreign buyers (effective 2022-05-18) · Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (MAFRA) · accessed 2026-10-16
- [4]토지이음 (land category and agricultural promotion area by parcel) · MOLIT · accessed 2026-10-16