The Korea Land Corporation has postponed the first-phase sale of land in the Gaesong Industrial Complex until the first half of next year.

The sale was originally planned to begin later this month.

The state-run land corporation said Tuesday that it made the decision after taking into account the government's suggestions for a further review of the selection of South Korean business firms to set up shop at the industrial park in the North's border city of Gaesong.

The corporation said the government also prefers to first observe the operation of a pilot site in the industrial complex before leasing out the main complex.

As for how to select the South Korean manufacturers to move into the main complex, the corporation is considering holding a lottery, unlike the case of the pilot plot, in which successful applicants were exclusively selected through the screening of written applications.