Suwon City Takes Action to Support Jeonse Fraud Victims and Develop Prevention Measures

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Jung Jun-sung] As a massive 'jeonse fraud suspicion' has occurred in Suwon, Suwon City has rolled up its sleeves to develop countermeasures to protect affected citizens.

Suwon Special City Mayor Lee Jae-jun presided over a 'jeonse fraud countermeasures meeting' in the situation room of Suwon City Hall on the morning of the 11th, instructing that "measures to support victims and prevention strategies for jeonse fraud be prepared and implemented promptly."

First, Suwon City has decided to establish the 'Suwon City Jeonse Damage Consultation (Reception) Center' within the Integrated Civil Service Office on the first floor of the main building of City Hall. The city plans to secure related professional personnel including attorneys, legal advisors, and certified real estate agents, and begin operating the jeonse damage consultation center as early as next week. Suwon City will also operate the consultation center on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., so that affected citizens can receive counseling on weekends as well.

The consultation center will integrate legal counseling related to jeonse fraud and victim determination procedures, accepting related administrative applications comprehensively, and provide support information that victims can receive. Once determined to be a jeonse fraud victim, recipients can receive financial support including △preferential purchase rights in forced auctions △interest-free jeonse loan support for priority repayment funds △tax exemptions such as acquisition tax waiver and property tax reduction △emergency welfare support including emergency living expenses and medical expenses.

Particularly, Suwon City is preparing emergency housing support utilizing LH purchased rental housing to help tenants facing forced eviction ease their housing concerns. In addition, when moving into emergency housing, relocation expenses of up to 1.5 million won will be supported. For young people, a jeonse deposit guarantee fee of up to 300,000 won will be provided. Local tax collection and delinquent tax enforcement will also be deferred for up to one year, allowing jeonse fraud victims to breathe easier.

The city has decided to send guidance notices to those who are unaware they may become jeonse fraud victims. The target includes households that have contracted with properties of the landlord in question but still have remaining lease periods. Guidance banners will also be posted in areas where damage is expected to concentrate.

Additionally, Suwon City will operate a comprehensive jeonse damage countermeasures task force. The task force, composed of an overall division, publicity division, jeonse damage support division, and jeonse fraud prevention division, will cooperate in jeonse fraud prevention and victim support. Centered on the Land Information Department, all 13 departments of Suwon City will concentrate their administrative capacity to comprehensively provide various tax support, welfare, housing stability, and psychological counseling services for victims.

Going forward, Suwon City will also engage in enacting relevant ordinances to expand diverse support for jeonse fraud victims' housing stability. To prevent jeonse fraud damage, the city is separately preparing to operate the 'Suwon City Monthly/Jeonse Consultation Center' to guide new working professionals and others in recognizing risky contracts before entering into monthly/jeonse lease agreements. Special crackdowns and strengthened penalties such as suspicious case planning investigations, as well as ongoing damage prevention education and publicity, will also be conducted.

Along with this, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's 'Visiting Jeonse Damage Support Service' will also be established in Suwon. From the 30th through November 10th, for two weeks, the city will provide guidance on the Ministry's emergency financing and housing support programs at the Integrated Civil Service Office on the first floor of Suwon City Hall. This service will operate from noon to 8 p.m. on weekdays so that victims do not miss counseling services due to work commitments.

Suwon Special City Mayor Lee Jae-jun stated, "Accurately identify what support is needed so jeonse fraud victims can quickly recover housing stability, provide all necessary information, and guide them so one-stop processing is possible."