통일 후 북한지역 토지 사유화 방안

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

Socialist countries have always been depressed because they did not allow the right to private property. The absence of private ownership is the root of the Principal-Agent Problem, which leads to an inefficient economic structure. As a result, socialist countries, such as those of the former-Soviet Union, began transforming their economies to a market-based structure in the 1990''s. During this period, East Germany gave up its socialist economic structure, which led to its eventual unification with West Germany.

Recently, North Korea has suffered a massive food and energy crisis. The economic problems of North Korea are serious. Although, the North Korean government has tried to reform its economic system in order to overcome the current poverty, it seems that the reform measures are not for the transition to a market economy. Experts even suggest an eventual collapse. The South Korean government, therefore, should prepare for the possibility of a North Korean downfall and abrupt reunification on the Korean peninsula.

One immediate issue is the probable conflict that will result over land ownership in North Korean territory after unification. Because many official documents detailing land ownership rights were lost and it will be difficult to verify the original owner of any disputed properties. The problem is further exacerbated by the fact that Korea has been divided into North and South for well over half a century. During that time period, North Korea, in contrast with South, has not allowed the right to private property. This absence of private land ownership in North Korea will make it all the more difficult to integrate the vastly different economic structures of the two countries. As a result, it is necessary to begin privatization of lands in the northern region in order to facilitate the settlement of the issue of private property rights after reunification. The purpose of this study is to find the optimal approach for privatizing land in North Korea after reunification.

The different methods of privatizing land are restitution, compensation, and re-nationalization. Judging from the lessons of Germany reunification, restitution and compensation to the original owner are very inefficient. Re-nationalization is more suitable approach for the Korean peninsula. It will prevent the likely conflict that will arise as a result of claims to land ownership between North and South Koreans. This will in turn spur investment in the northern parts of the peninsula, which will go towards rehabilitating the economy of North Korea.

And it is necessary to privatize land after re-nationalization. In the case of China, the country is so far succeeding in its transition to a market economy due to its gradual approach. The Chinese land system is unique because it works on a dual track. Land ownership rights belong to the nation, where administrators control the distribution of land, and people only have the right to use the land. During this process of distribution, however, rent seeking behavior can result, causing the market demand and supply to function improperly. Black markets arise. Land nationalization, therefore, in the long term is not efficient.

Land privatization should progress gradually, according to the character of land. Existing owners of residential and small business properties should be given priority in claiming rights to land. Members of collective farming units, however, should be given priority in claiming rights to land. The current cultivating owners of kitchen gardens should be given priority in claiming rights to land.