Please Check Licensed Real Estate Agent ID Badges and QR Codes When Using Brokerage Services

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Park No-hoon] Gyeonggi Province will fully implement the "Licensed Real Estate Agent ID Badge Wearing and QR Code Sticker Attachment Initiative" to protect residents from illegal activities by unqualified and unregistered real estate brokers.

According to the province on the 19th, all approximately 33,000 licensed real estate agents (at approximately 29,400 brokerage offices) in the province are being encouraged to wear ID badges.

The ID badges include the brokerage office name, registration number, licensed agent name, and photograph, allowing anyone to verify identity at a glance.

QR code stickers will be attached to the exterior of real estate brokerage offices. People can use their mobile phones to check the registration information of the brokerage offices from outside.

The QR code links to the brokerage office status on the "Gyeonggi Real Estate Portal" website, informing users whether it is a properly registered business.

This policy follows active review of a public proposal through the National Complaint Service suggesting that licensed real estate agents also wear ID badges so that real estate transactions can be conducted with confidence.

Since there is no legal mandate, the initiative is being pursued only among licensed real estate agents who have submitted "personal information consent forms," but the province intends to promote fair real estate transaction practices based on the public proposal.

Currently, some cities and counties are implementing ID badge systems (13 locations including Suwon and Bucheon) and QR code stickers (Bucheon and Uiwang) as independent initiatives, while the province expects the policy to be implemented in all 31 cities and counties by the second half of the year.

In the first half of this year, preparatory work including obtaining consent forms and producing ID badges will continue.

The province plans to strictly enforce laws against related illegal activities such as counterfeit badge creation, forgery, and rental in connection with badge production.

Hong Ji-seon, Director of Urban and Housing at Gyeonggi Province, said, "This measure will preemptively block illegal brokerage activities by unqualified and unregistered individuals and establish fair real estate transaction practices." He added, "When using licensed real estate agent services, you should check for QR code stickers or licensed real estate agent ID badges to prevent illegal activities."