Republic of Korea in Yeokcheon - Chapter 81



Only Krnovel

#81. Land reform! You don’t need it anymore!

Next, a discussion on land reform continued.

Land reform was supposed to be managed by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, but it is such an important issue that, unlike the original, it covers all land, including residential land as well as farmland and forest land across the Korean Peninsula, which were subject to the first reform, so Minister for Political Affairs Kim Ho-jin is in charge. did.

Of course, as the times were different, farmland such as fields and rice paddies was the main target and the core of reform.

“To what extent has land reform been framed? “I understand that the situation somehow became ambiguous and the direction became strange.”

“haha! That’s right. “This is the confiscation of land owned by Japanese companies and Japanese people, such as Dongyang Chuksik Co., Ltd., and most of the land owned by Koreans was acquired through illegal methods, even if they were pro-Japanese, so there is a lot of land confiscated.”

“Yes, I know so too.”

“As things continue like this, land in particular has been confiscated and we have become in a situation where we have nothing to do with ourselves. “55% of all farmland has become government land.”

“omg···.”

“Well, in this case…”

When told that 55% of farmland had become state-owned land, not only Lee Kang-cheol but also other State Council members who were not involved in land reform could not suppress their bewilderment.

“No, I heard from a previous report that about 65% of farmland was small farmland?”

“That’s right.”

“So, are you saying that out of the 65% of farmland owned by landlords, only 10% of the farmland was not confiscated? Does that make sense?”

“It’s possible. That’s actually the result.”

“How on earth do you get results like that?”

“Well, it is the result of our hard work in liquidating the pro-Japanese faction.”

“this···.”

If this happens, the discussion of land reform methods, such as free confiscation or paid confiscation, becomes meaningless.

It is safe to say that all land eligible for confiscation has already been confiscated.

“To help you understand, I will provide a comprehensive explanation of our country’s land reform.”

“That’s right.”

“First, let’s look at the original history. Originally, land reform was greatly influenced by the recommendation or pressure of the US military government and the land reform based on the principle of free confiscation and free distribution implemented by North Korea.”

“US military government?”

“Yes, the land reform of Japan, Taiwan, a former Japanese colony, and our country that occurred after World War II is based on the policies of the U.S. State Department.”

“is it so?”

“You might be surprised to see the U.S. State Department pop up out of nowhere, but it’s true. Of course, this is not because the U.S. State Department feels sorry for farmers in Japan, Korea, and Taiwan.”

“Then?”

“This is because there was great concern that left-wing forces would infiltrate under the landlord system, which had a very exploitative structure. As everyone knows, areas where exploitation is structurally entrenched are excellent soil for communism to take root.”

“ah···.”

The United States of this era was a major economy.

“But it seems that Japan, which was not a colony, was also subject to severe exploitation?”

“In Japan, exploitation was exploitation, but the purpose was greater than that: to dismantle the landlord system, which was one of the pillars of vested rights in the Japanese Empire. In fact, Japan’s land reform was implemented more strongly than ours by GHQ. If we targeted farmland of more than 3 jeongbo for paid confiscation, Japan confiscated all 1 jeongbo or more for a fee. “The compensation was not made until much later, in 1965.”

“Wow! “It’s strong!”

1 piece of information is 3,000 pyeong.

Therefore, it was said that the land reform implemented by GHQ in Japan was truly tremendous.

“Anyway, our land reform came from that background. During the Japanese colonial period, our agricultural structure was very exploitative. As mentioned earlier, 65% of farmland in terms of area was tenant farming, and the average rental fee was 55% to 60% of the amount produced, and in Jeonbuk, a representative granary region, even 70% or 80% was taken.”

“Huh, so you can live?”

“I can’t survive. So, 1.2 million households, or 43% of the rural residents, were spring dwellers and survived with grass root bark. “It was even worse in the granary area.”

“…”

“…”

Everyone was speechless.

“Our Korean landowners did the same thing?”

“haha! “Where are the Japanese and Koreans who are exploiting us?”

“You’re crazy…”

“Yes, that’s right. That’s crazy. So the U.S. military government tried to enact legislation, but as you know, it failed due to opposition from the Korean Democratic Party, in which many large landowners participated.”

“ha···.”

“But I couldn’t not say that. In 1946, North Korea suddenly implemented reforms based on the principle of free confiscation and free distribution, and this was widely known to the South as well. Of course, the North Koreans gave only the right to farm, but they took it all under various pretexts, and even confiscated it to create collective farms after the Korean War, but in any case, it was part of the reason why the South Korean government at the time had no choice but to implement land reform. It is true that it has become. Although 65% of farmland is tenant farming, close to 80% of farmers were either self-cropping or self-cropping, combining self-cropping and tenant farming. What if there were no reforms?”

“It must have turned over at some point.”

“haha! you’re right. So, although the bill was much more relaxed than what the US military government had envisioned, the bill to confiscate for money based on 3 pieces of information was passed in 1949. Although it has no meaning now, it originally had significant meaning in history. Thanks to this, there was no unrest among the farmers even in the war that broke out immediately.”

This meant that even though the North Korean army occupied most of South Korea due to the implemented land reform, there were few farmers who cooperated with the North Korean army.

“Anyway, it was like this originally, and our new Korean government’s land reform was a bit different.”

“you’re right. We said we should avoid reforms that would produce too many small-scale independent farmers. Instead, let’s reform encompassing land areas such as farmland, forest land, and residential land based on the concept of open land.”

“It was. However, as mentioned earlier, as pro-Japanese groups were thoroughly liquidated, the meaning of confiscation, whether free or paid, has faded. “It has become a bit ridiculous to think of reform targeting large landowners who occupy only 10% of the area.”

“But wouldn’t 10% of farmland be quite enough?”

“The land confiscated from the Japanese and pro-Japanese factions is currently being cultivated by farmers with only 20% rent paid. “In addition, when we restored the Korean Peninsula the year before last, we limited the rental fee to no more than 30% as a temporary measure.”

“Oh, I did.”

“Even if there is no limit, I can’t raise it anymore. “There is a lot of farmland owned by the government where only 20% of the rent is paid, but who would rent while paying more than 50% like before?”

“Well, I see.”

“In addition, our government’s new land reform goal was to foster mid- to large-scale corporate farms. The large landowners with the 10% of the area that survived were not pro-Japanese and were sound landowners who did not exploit to that extent. “If this is the case, wouldn’t it be insufficient to encourage it under certain limits?”

“…”

As you heard, the situation became a bit strange.

“And more than anything, a big variable has arisen.”

“What is that?”

“Has there been a lot of major construction work since we recovered the Korean Peninsula the year before last?”

“yes?”

“We are pouring astronomical amounts of money into building industrial infrastructure such as electricity, communications, and transportation. As the Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Construction said earlier, at least the major roads on the Korean Peninsula are scheduled to be completed within three years, right?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Is that all there is? Basic industries such as steel mills, oil refining, and chemicals are also expanding like crazy. And we get it for free? no. “It meets the standards of the times, but we work in a decent environment according to the Labor Standards Act and are paid well.”

“…”

“Another thing to consider is that there are many soldiers who are conscripted or volunteer for national defense. By last year, 300,000 men had become soldiers, and we plan to increase this number to more than 500,000 by next year. ruler! Where do all these people come from? Did it fall from the sky? Or did it spring up from the ground?”

“No, I…”

“80% of the people! No, as liberation got closer, the ratio dropped a little and 75% were farmers! Among those who build highways, work at steel mills, and join the military, three out of four come from rural areas! And that’s almost all adult men! Additionally, the work of children and adolescents was prohibited or restricted. So, will there be people left in the countryside!”

“…”

“…”

I didn’t know.

I really had no idea that the trend of returning to Ichon due to rapid industrialization had already begun.

“Whoa! Is it already like that?”

“Yes, that’s about it. It is fortunate that compatriots from Japan, the Soviet Union, and China are flowing in, and the Japanese in Korea are not being kicked out, but I do not know how long we can endure. Would I really make a fuss if I was bored with the Chief of Naval Staff? You want us to quickly bring back Japanese people who are stranded in China? “We must bring them all before the start of spring at the latest.”

“omg···.”

“Think about it. It’s less difficult than farming, but you make a lot more money working at a steel mill. Even if you work as a handyman at a highway site, you earn several times more. “Who will work in the countryside?”

“Hmm, I neglected this because I was preoccupied with other things. So what about farming this year?”

“First of all, agricultural machinery from the United States is coming in, so we can somehow survive until this year. But I can’t guarantee next year.”

“okay.”

The rural workforce will continue to flow out.

Measures must be taken.

“It was a long introduction, but now I will conclude about land reform. Land reform! You don’t need it anymore! No, we need to reform, but in the opposite direction. Cultivating corporate agriculture of a certain scale through thorough mechanization! This is the only way our agriculture can survive! Of course, while distributing state-owned farmland to existing tenant farmers.”

“I completely agree.”

“And land reform must prepare for the future concentration of population into cities along the Ichon route. As the President said earlier, if left alone, Seoul will once again be surrounded by a forest of concrete apartments. “We need detailed urban planning for balanced development of the country, designation of extensive absolute green space, and active public expropriation policies in areas expected to be developed.”

“I agree with that too. “We will never again see apartments being built all the way to the top of a mountain.”

“you’re right. Urbanization has already begun. “This is unavoidable, but if we plan thoroughly and prepare, we can solve the problem of urban concentration that will occur within five years at the most.”

“I agree.”

“What the President said is correct.”

Everyone unanimously expressed agreement with what Minister Kim Ho-jin said.

So now we need to abolish the past policy and replace it with a new policy.

Lee Kang-cheol waited for the State Council members to finish speaking before opening his mouth.

“Since everyone agrees, we will discard the existing direction of land reform. Instead, we will establish regulations and innovation plans for residential land, etc., based on the concept of open land.”

“I will.”

“And, I hope that Secretary General Kim Ho-jin will also work hard on this plan. Fortunately, the budget is generously coming from the United States, so we will provide enough to make sure there is no shortage. please.”

“Hehehe! I will do my best.”

“Other State Council members, please consider my words regarding this issue.”

“All right.”

“And the Minister of Health and Welfare!”

“yes?”

When Lee Kang-cheol suddenly called the Minister of Health and Welfare, Minister Jang responded in surprise.

“You know?”

“W-what?”

“In the end, you know that the best thing to do is to increase the population by increasing the birth rate and lowering the death rate, right?”

“…”

It was the population before the start,