[Asia Economy (Suwon) = Reporter Lee Young-gyu] Lee Jae-myung, Governor of Gyeonggi Province, announced that he will open and operate a free consultation center to minimize confusion caused by the government's implementation of the 'Three Lease Laws' (Contract Renewal Request System, Rent Ceiling System, Lease Reporting System). He also added that he plans to revise the standards for rent increase/decrease adjustments and claims to support tenants struggling due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic.
On the 22nd, Governor Lee explained on Facebook, "With the full-scale implementation of the Three Lease Laws, there has been a significant change in the 'jeonse and monthly rent contracts' that have been landlord-centered for 40 years," adding, "The introduction of the Contract Renewal Request System, Rent Ceiling System, and Lease Reporting System has strengthened tenants' rights."
He continued, "Gyeonggi Province has established the 'Public-Private Cooperation Three Lease Laws Consultation Center' at three locations: Gyeonggi Provincial Government Office in Suwon and the Northern Office in Uijeongbu, to ensure early settlement of the new system and minimize confusion," and introduced, "At these centers, accurate information and legal consultations for proper situation assessment will be provided free of charge to residents."
In particular, he expressed gratitude, saying, "We thank the Gyeonggi Central and Northern Bar Associations of the Korean Bar Association, the Lawyers for a Democratic Society, and the Southern and Northern Branches of the Korea Association of Realtors for their willing cooperation in operating the free consultation centers."
Furthermore, he stated, "Gyeonggi Province plans to prepare appropriate standards for rent increase/decrease adjustments and claims to help tenants facing difficulties due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic," explaining, "According to the current Commercial Building Lease Protection Act, tenants can request rent adjustments due to changes in economic circumstances, but many small business owners do not even dare to request rent reductions because they are unaware of their legal rights."
Gyeonggi Province will present guidelines such as appraising losses by industry during the business suspension order period when operations were prohibited, aiming to reduce costs and procedures involved in legal disputes, and will also engage in mediation consultations to help landlords and tenants overcome difficult times together.
Governor Lee also emphasized, "I believe Gyeonggi Province can take a step forward through coexistence," adding, "The strength and wisdom of both the public and private sectors, landlords, and tenants are necessary."
On the same day, the province signed an agreement with the Korean Bar Association, Lawyers for a Democratic Society, and the Korea Association of Realtors to operate the Three Lease Laws Consultation Center to minimize confusion in the housing market caused by the government's implementation of the Three Lease Laws.
According to the agreement, the province will establish and operate the consultation center and provide necessary administrative support. The Gyeonggi Central Bar Association and Gyeonggi Northern Bar Association will support legal consultations including those related to the Three Lease Laws. Lawyers for a Democratic Society will support legal consultations related to leases and produce video lectures explaining the Three Lease Laws, while the Korea Association of Realtors will provide lease-related consultations and produce a tenant guidebook.
A provincial official stated, "This agreement was prepared in response to the surge in consultation inquiries between tenants and landlords following the implementation of the revised Housing Lease Protection Act and the revised Real Estate Transaction Reporting Act on July 31, which focus on the Lease Reporting System, Rent Ceiling System, and Contract Renewal Request System," and added, "The province will expand professional consultations to ensure the new system is quickly settled."
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