The compensation for land acquisition is too low. How do I?

What the Law Says

South Korean law guarantees fair compensation for land acquired for public purposes and provides clear procedures to challenge inadequate offers.

Under the Land Acquisition Act, the government must pay compensation equal to the 'normal market price' of the land — generally interpreted as twice the publicly announced standard land price (standard price × 2).

If you believe the offered amount is too low, you may submit a written objection to the acquiring authority (e.g., local government or public corporation) within 30 days of receiving the official compensation notice.

If the authority rejects your objection or fails to respond within 30 days, you may request arbitration from the Land Acquisition Arbitration Committee — a specialized body under the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.

Alternatively, you may file a lawsuit seeking higher compensation in the administrative court within 90 days of receiving the final compensation decision.

Statutory Text

The compensation for acquired land shall be calculated based on the normal market price of the land at the time of acquisition.

— Land Acquisition Act, s. 27 — Compensation Standard

Statutory Text

A person who disagrees with the compensation amount may file an objection in writing with the acquiring authority within thirty days from the date of notification.

— Land Acquisition Act, s. 30 — Objection Procedure

Statutory Text

Where an objection is not resolved, the person may request arbitration from the Land Acquisition Arbitration Committee or file a suit with the administrative court within ninety days.

— Land Acquisition Act, s. 31 — Remedies After Objection

What to Do

Sources