File No. 895.52/13.
The American Consul General at Seoul to the Secretary of State.
Seoul, August 23, 1912.
Sir: I have the honor to transmit herewith a translation of an ordinance,1 with subsidary regulations,1 promulgated by the Government General of Chosen on August 13, 1912, relating to land surveys and titles.
These measures supplement and in a few particulars modify the law No. 7, promulgated August 24, 1910, a translation of which was forwarded by me to the Department through the Embassy at Tokyo in December, 1910.2
Article 2 of this ordinance provides for numbering and classifying holdings.
Article 3 gives as the unit for areas the “tsubo” or “bu” equivalent to nearly 36 square feet. There are about 1200 tsubos to an acre.
Articles 4 and 5 relate to information to be furnished to the Land Investigation Bureau by land owners or lessees.
Article 6 relates to appointment of representatives of owners to assist in investigation and survey.
Article 7 relates to attendance of parties, and witnesses and production of muniments of title.
Article 8 authorizes entry upon lands by officials, after notification, and for compensation for damage arising from such entry.
[Page 646]Under Articles 9, 10, and 11 the President of the Special Land Investigation Bureau shall decide as to ownership and boundaries of land, and publish the same during 30 days, after which, and within 60 days following, dissatisfied parties may appeal to the Higher Land Investigation Committee.
Articles 12, 13, 14, and 15 relate to procedure on appeal.
Under Article 16 a rehearing before the Higher Land Investigation Committee may be applied for within three years from the date of its decision in cases of misconduct of the parties or fraud.
Article 17 provides for land registers and maps.
Articles 18 and 19 prescribe penalties.
The appended regulations give further details as to the application of these articles.
I have [etc.]
- Not printed.↩
- Not printed.↩
- See For. Rel. 1911, p. 328.↩