"How Can I Trust the Government and Wait for Housing Subscription?" Anger of a 40s Jeonse Tenant Living with Husband

Cheong National Petition "Husband Who Likes Moon Jae-in Government and Kim Eo-jun
Living in Jeonse and Wants to Apply for Housing Subscription... Facing Eviction Due to Lease 3 Laws"
"Ease Loan Regulations and Improve Housing Subscription System to Fix Reverse Discrimination Against 4050"

On the 2nd, an apartment area viewed from the Lotte World Tower Observatory in Songpa-gu, Seoul

The continuous real estate measures by the government, soaring apartment prices, and tightened loan regulations have deepened the worries of those without homes. Even if they want to buy, apartment prices have risen too much in a short period, and the financial ladder has been cut off. Those in their 40s who were preparing for subscription by accumulating points are particularly dissatisfied. They are complaining about reverse discrimination as special supply for newlyweds and young people expands.

On the 3rd, a post titled "People in their 40s living in jeonse (long-term lease) are not even considered citizens of this country; they just have children and are chased around without a house due to private education expenses" was uploaded on the Blue House National Petition board.

The petitioner, who identified as being in their mid-40s, said, "My husband, who likes the Moon Jae-in administration and Kim Eo-jun, has trusted the government and lived without a home. We have two children and points for no-home status, so we have been living in jeonse for several years, preparing for subscription."

The petitioner first appealed about the damage caused by the 'Three Lease Laws (Contract Renewal Request System, Jeonse and Monthly Rent Cap System, Jeonse and Monthly Rent Reporting System)'.

According to the post, the petitioner, who has two elementary school children, recently received a notice from the landlord saying, "Either increase the jeonse deposit by 200 million KRW or move out of this house." The petitioner exercised the contract renewal request right under the Three Lease Laws, which came into effect in July last year. This law allows one contract renewal but limits the deposit increase rate to within 5%.

Based on this, the petitioner inquired at a nearby real estate agency, but the response was despairing. It was said that the landlord is likely not to comply with the Three Lease Laws, and even if the tenant claims damages, the landlord is in a favorable position.

The petitioner said, "(From the landlord's perspective) the amount of damages is nothing, so it is more profitable to raise the deposit and bring in a new tenant," adding, "Moreover, it is realistically difficult for a dual-income couple to directly file a lawsuit for damages."

Then, the petitioner expressed, "The frustration I feel is so severe that I think I might even commit suicide," and appealed, "Please create realistic systems, whether by simplifying the damage claim process, increasing penalties, or abolishing the contract renewal request system."

The petitioner also expressed dissatisfaction with loan regulations and the subscription system. They particularly argued, "Are dual-income no-home households in their 40s, raising elementary to high school children and paying taxes, supposed to live in jeonse from newlywed landlords while accumulating subscription points?" claiming that the subscription system excludes no-home 40-somethings with children.

The government is increasing special supply for newlyweds and first-time homebuyers to help young people with low subscription points who had zero chances of winning. However, this is causing feelings of deprivation among middle-aged people who have been steadily accumulating points while waiting for subscription.

The petitioner appealed, "I hope you consider improving the subscription system and easing loan regulations for no-home households," adding, "Please think of those who are raising children diligently, working dual incomes, waiting for subscription, and the marginalized 40-somethings trying to buy even one home without ownership when making policies."

Earlier, on the 22nd of last month, a post titled "If half of the 3rd New Town is for Newlywed Hope Town, are people in their 40s and 50s not citizens?" was also uploaded on the Blue House National Petition board. It contained complaints from the 40s and 50s generation about more than half of the 30,200 public sale apartments in major metropolitan areas, including the 3rd New Town, being allocated to newlywed couples.

The petitioner said, "I have been waiting only for the 3rd New Town, but half is for Newlywed Hope Town," and asked, "Are the middle-aged who trusted and waited not citizens?" They continued, "We give everything, including newlywed special supply, to young people, and have to live in jeonse in the homes of much younger newlywed couples and be treated like beggars?does that make us feel relieved?"

Meanwhile, according to the report "Life Finance Report ? How People in Their 40s Live in Korea" released on the 3rd by Hana Bank's 100-Year Happiness Research Center, 44% of people in their 40s were found to be without homes. The home ownership rate was particularly low among Seoul residents (50%) compared to residents of the four major metropolitan cities (63%). The proportion of 40-somethings living in jeonse was 18%, and those living in monthly rent was 13%. The remaining 13% answered that they lived in their parents' homes or elsewhere. Among jeonse residents, the average loan balance was 80 million KRW, and for monthly rent residents, it was 24 million KRW.