Korea to sell idle Argentine farm from Park Chung-hee era after nearly 50 years

KOICA plans to sell the Yatamauca farm in Santiago del Estero, Argentina, after decades of failed development efforts and costly upkeep. Korea bought the 20,882-hectare property in 1978 to support Korean immigrants, but surveys found it unsuitable for development and provincial authorities rejected a proposal in 2024. KOICA also plans to revise leasing arrangements for its Teno farm in Chile to improve returns.

Korea purchased the Yatamauca farm for $2.12 million in August 1978.

KOICA records show that maintaining the Argentine property cost 4.95 billion won from 2001 through 2026, including 1.07 billion won in land taxes.

Much of the Yatamauca property was placed under forest protection after provincial environmental regulations tightened in 2015.

KOICA’s proposed forest conservation and livestock plan was estimated to require at least $2.94 million in infrastructure spending and more than 18 years to recover the investment.

The Teno farm in Chile covers 185.33 hectares and was purchased in December 1980 for approximately $530,000.

Published Oct 26, 2026 12:06 pm KST

Members of a feasibility study team look over a map of the Yatamauca farm in Argentina in October 2025. Korea purchased the farm in August 1978 during President Park Chung-hee’s term. Courtesy of Korea International Cooperation Agency

Korea plans to sell a farm in Argentina nearly 50 years after purchasing it during President Park Chung-hee’s rule to support agricultural immigration, following decades of the land sitting idle and requiring costly maintenance.

The plan, outlined by the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and approved by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was submitted to Rep. Han Jeoung-ae of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) and made public on Monday.

Korea purchased the Yatamauca farm in Santiago del Estero, about 1,050 kilometers northwest of Buenos Aires, for $2.12 million in August 1978, toward the end of Park's term. Park served as Korea's president from 1961 until his assassination in 1979.

Spanning 20,882 hectares (208.82 square kilometers), roughly one-third of Seoul’s area or 72 times the size of Yeouido, the farm was purchased to help Korean immigrants settle in Argentina and make a living through farming.

The vision never materialized. Multiple surveys found the land unsuitable for development, while its upkeep has cost taxpayers billions of won.

KOICA, the country’s overseas aid agency under the foreign ministry, took over management upon its establishment in 1991 but has since failed to find a viable use for the farm.

KOICA’s available electronic records show that maintaining the farm cost 4.95 billion won ($3.74 million) from 2001 through 2026, including 1.07 billion won in land taxes and 3.88 billion won in local management and operating expenses.

Development prospects narrowed after tighter provincial environmental regulations placed much of the property under forest protection in 2015.

Provincial authorities effectively closed the door to development when they rejected a proposal submitted in 2024.

KOICA considered using the land for both forest conservation and livestock farming.

However, an assessment found that the plan would require at least $2.94 million in infrastructure spending and take more than 18 years to recover the investment.

Citing policy uncertainty, the lengthy investment recovery period and continuing maintenance expenses, the agency decided to sell the farm to recover public funds.

Meanwhile, KOICA plans to revamp leasing arrangements for its Teno farm in Chile to improve returns.

The 185.33-hectare property, about 173 kilometers south of Santiago, was purchased in December 1980 for approximately $530,000.

Temporary leases since 2017 have drawn criticism over below-market rents.

An appraisal found that leasing a 145.4-hectare section for solar power generation for 25 to 35 years could make the land worth up to 1,480 times as much as leasing it for farming.

韩国国际合作机构（KOICA）计划出售位于阿根廷圣地亚哥德尔埃斯特罗的亚塔毛卡农场。该农场数十年来开发尝试均告失败，且维护成本高昂。韩国于1978年购入这片占地20,882公顷的土地，旨在扶持韩国移民。但调查显示，该农场不适宜开发，且省政府于2024年驳回了一项开发提案。此外，KOICA还计划修改其位于智利特诺农场的租赁协议，以提高收益。

1978 年 8 月，韩国以 212 万美元的价格购买了 Yatamauca 农场。

韩国国际合作机构 (KOICA) 的记录显示，从 2001 年到 2026 年，维护阿根廷房产的费用为 49.5 亿韩元，其中包括 10.7 亿韩元的土地税。

2015 年省环境法规收紧后，亚塔毛卡的大部分土地被划为森林保护区。

韩国国际合作署提出的森林保护和畜牧业计划预计至少需要 294 万美元的基础设施支出，并且需要 18 年以上的时间才能收回投资。

位于智利的 Teno 农场占地 185.33 公顷，于 1980 年 12 月以约 530,000 美元的价格购入。

发布于2026年10月26日下午12:06（韩国标准时间）

2025年10月，可行性研究小组的成员正在查看阿根廷亚塔毛卡农场的地图。韩国于1978年8月朴正熙总统任期内购得该农场。图片由韩国国际合作机构提供。

韩国计划出售其在阿根廷的一处农场。该农场是韩国在朴正熙总统执政时期为支持农业移民而购买的，至今已近50年。由于数十年来土地闲置，需要昂贵的维护费用，韩国计划出售该农场。

该计划由韩国国际合作机构（KOICA）制定，并经外交部批准，已提交给执政党共同民主党（DPK）议员韩正爱，并于周一公布。

1978年8月，在朴正熙总统任期即将结束之际，韩国以212万美元的价格购买了位于布宜诺斯艾利斯西北约1050公里处的圣地亚哥德尔埃斯特罗的亚塔毛卡农场。朴正熙从1961年起担任韩国总统，直至1979年遇刺身亡。

该农场占地 20,882 公顷（208.82 平方公里），约占首尔面积的三分之一，或汝矣岛面积的 72 倍。购买该农场的目的是帮助韩国移民在阿根廷定居，并通过务农谋生。

这一设想最终未能实现。多项调查显示该地块不适宜开发，而维护费用却已耗费纳税人数十亿韩元。

韩国外交部下属的海外援助机构KOICA于1991年成立后接管了该农场的管理，但此后一直未能找到该农场的可行用途。

韩国国际合作署 (KOICA) 的电子记录显示，从 2001 年到 2026 年，维持该农场的成本为 49.5 亿韩元（374 万美元），其中包括 10.7 亿韩元的土地税和 38.8 亿韩元的当地管理和运营费用。

2015 年，由于省政府出台了更严格的环境法规，将该地大部分划为森林保护区，开发前景变得黯淡。

省政府拒绝了2024年提交的提案，实际上关闭了发展的大门。

韩国国际合作机构（KOICA）曾考虑将这片土地用于森林保护和畜牧养殖。

然而，评估发现，该计划至少需要 294 万美元的基础设施支出，并且需要 18 年以上的时间才能收回投资。

由于政策不确定性、投资回收期长以及持续的维护费用，该机构决定出售农场以收回公共资金。

与此同时，韩国国际合作署（KOICA）计划对其位于智利的特诺农场的租赁安排进行改革，以提高收益。

这处占地 185.33 公顷的房产位于圣地亚哥以南约 173 公里处，于 1980 年 12 月以约 53 万美元的价格购入。

自 2017 年以来，临时租赁合同因租金低于市场水平而受到批评。

评估发现，将 145.4 公顷的土地租赁用于太阳能发电 25 至 35 年，土地价值可能比将其租赁用于农业用途高出 1480 倍。