Kim, who was preparing to buy land, found a field he liked and rushed to sign a contract. He thought checking the registry extract would be enough, but only after paying the balance did he discover that the land register and the actual boundary did not match. A dispute over the boundary began with the neighboring landowner, and only then did Kim realize that a land transaction must proceed in an entirely different way from an apartment purchase.

The true nature of land is difficult to fully grasp from a registry extract alone. Here are the key items that must be checked before signing a contract.

1. Boundary and Access Road: On-Site Verification Comes First The cadastral map may not match the actual conditions on the ground, and some plots are landlocked parcels with no road access, which restricts construction. Before signing, it is necessary to visit the site in person and visually verify the boundaries, access roads, and surrounding facilities.

2. Purchasing Farmland Requires a 'Farmland Acquisition Qualification Certificate' When buying farmland, there is a separate procedure called the farmland acquisition qualification certificate. Not just anyone can own farmland; the certificate is issued only to those who actually farm or have an agricultural management plan. There are cases where people skip this step and proceed with the contract first, only to be blocked at the ownership transfer, so caution is needed.

3. Check for Unlicensed Structures and Hidden Rights There may be unlicensed buildings on the land, or rights not shown in the registry, such as liens or statutory surface rights, may be entangled with it. To avoid disputes, it is necessary to separately confirm whether any rights other than ownership encumber the land and how ownership of structures on the land is handled.

4. Verify Zoning and Land Category Through the Land Use Planning Certificate Zoning designation and land category are also important factors in a purchase decision. If the land category is not a building site but forest or field/paddy land, it may not be immediately usable for the intended purpose, and depending on the zoning designation, buildability and scale limits vary. Before signing, it is recommended to review the land use planning certificate to see what restrictions apply to the land.

An Order That Reduces Disputes: On-Site Verification → Document Comparison → Rights Review As in Kim's case, rather than rushing the contract and balance payment, the recommended way to reduce disputes in land transactions is to proceed step by step: on-site verification, document comparison, and review of rights.

[This article is intended to help readers understand general land transaction procedures and does not substitute for legal judgment or assessment of individual land rights. Before signing an actual contract, be sure to directly review relevant documents such as the registry extract, land register, and cadastral map, and consult a licensed real estate agent or legal/tax professional if necessary. This article was written with AI assistance.]