Government attempts to seize homes from elderly farmers
Kim So-sun, one of the farmers affected, protests at a community meeting. She earns a living by selling the vegetables she grows on her land / Courtesy of Leo Mendoza
By Rachel Stine
For months, an eminent domain scandal has rocked the small village of Seoksan in Busan.
Tensions continue to rise between residents ― most of whom have cultivated Seoksan's land for decades ― and the government, which wants to bulldoze farms to build shopping facilities and high-rise apartments for high-income young families.
Property values in the area are expected to skyrocket once the government's development plans are realized. But villagers are not being given time to take advantage of the rise in value. Instead, they are being told to move now.
“We could get more than double for our property if we waited,” said Shin Tae-keun, president of a local seniors' group. “The government never asked for our permission. They just demanded we leave our homes. We're old, and we're farmers … this is all we have.”
The urban development scheme is being rolled out as South Korea's economy is threatened by a plummeting birthrate. It is expected that by 2050 Korea's workforce won't be large enough to cover the cost of benefits for the country's elderly. As a result, International Monetary Fund (IMF) experts have called the country a “
.”
But the actual link between the Seoksan development project and easing financial strain on young families is tenuous. Shin said: “Only a quarter of those apartments for young couples are actually filled. So why does the government want to build more units? It makes no sense.”
Expat homeowner Leo Mendoza said the government could buy corporate-owned land instead. “I recognize progress must happen,” he said. “But I am shocked at seeing how the indifference and state-sanctioned theft run by government officials can drive these grandmothers to such anguish.”
Mendoza runs “
,” a bilingual Facebook page meant to raise awareness of the situation.
A graphic Mendoza posted on “Save Seoksan,” a bilingual Facebook page, shows the village in yellow, the villagers' farmland in red, undeveloped land in blue, undeveloped land belonging to Samsung in black, and recently built Lotte mall, science museum, Hilton hotel, golf courses in green / Courtesy of Facebook
The graphic highlights zoning law issues. The government refuses to label the village properties as “residential” or “commercial,” despite the fact people live there. If the zoning were changed, the villagers' property values would double overnight.
Mendoza said: “The lies we have heard are shocking, and when the truth comes out, killing all hope for these elders, you see the tears. I fear one or more of these people will do something drastic.”
At a March community protest, his fears were almost realized. One senior citizen, outraged by the imminent seizure of his home, attempted to slash his chest open with a knife. He was restrained before any harm occurred.
Despite heightened tension, additional rallies are planned. In a telephone interview, Shin affirmed his resolve to fight for his land.
“These are our homes,” Shin said. “I want the government to understand the situation we're in. We can't go to a new apartment with some money ― farming is our income. There are 70 of us here. We would rather die than leave.”
LH was unavailable for comment.