Suwon Opens Jeonse Damage Counseling Center on the 19th

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Jeong Jun-sung] A one-stop counseling service for victims of suspected "jeonse fraud" opened on the 19th at Suwon Metropolitan City Hall.

The city launched the 'Suwon Jeonse Damage Counseling Center' on the 1st floor of the Integrated Civil Services Center in the main building of Suwon City Hall starting at 9 a.m. that day and began providing counseling for citizens concerned about damages.

On the opening day, the counseling center saw a steady stream of victims. Young people in their 20s and newlyweds, primarily early-career professionals, made up the majority. Even those experiencing issues with landlords beyond properties owned by the family in question sought out the center early on for counseling. As of 3 p.m. on the opening day, there were 8 on-site consultations and 3 phone inquiries and consultations.

Three experts—a lawyer, a legal advisor, and a real estate agent—provided customized legal counseling tailored to each victim's situation at the counseling center. The lawyer offered detailed guidance on legal procedures and requirements such as deposit refund lawsuits, damages claims, and civil and criminal litigation. The legal advisor explained procedures for tenant rights registration, payment orders, and competitive and public auctions, outlining damage recovery measures. Additionally, the real estate agent reviewed lease contracts to help victims determine their status, understand priority claims, and assess their legal standing.

The Suwon Jeonse Damage Counseling Center opens at 9 a.m. Monday through Saturday. Applications for jeonse fraud victim determination are available starting at 9 a.m., and expert legal counseling begins at 10 a.m. For victims who have difficulty seeking counseling due to work commitments, the center remains open until 1 p.m. on Saturdays.

Suwon Mayor Lee Jae-jun visited the counseling center in the afternoon, encouraging staff and urging them to listen carefully to the voices of victims. He pledged to develop comprehensive measures containing support policies and prevention strategies tailored to Suwon's circumstances, as well as proposals for systemic improvements. Suwon will also prepare ordinances to expand its own support programs. In particular, the city plans to develop specific measures for preventing a recurrence of jeonse fraud cases and victim support measures, and will propose systemic improvements to the central government.

Mayor Lee said, "While modest in scope, we will provide maximum support for what Suwon can do and will make efforts to help victims find housing stability at the earliest possible time."