National Police Agency-Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, Operation of One-Stop Support Center for Jeonse Fraud Victims

Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Won Hee-ryong (left) and Commissioner of the National Police Agency Yoon Hee-geun attended the 'Jeonse Damage Support Center Opening Ceremony' held at the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Gangseo-gu, Seoul, on the afternoon of the 28th, signing a business agreement to establish order in the real estate market. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Cho] The National Police Agency and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced that starting from the 28th, they will operate the "Jeonse Fraud Support Center" in Hwagok-dong, Gangseo-gu, to comprehensively support victims of jeonse fraud.

Until now, even when victims suffered from jeonse fraud, legal consultations, emergency housing provision, and loan support were divided among different agencies, making it difficult for victims to receive timely assistance. Accordingly, the government established the center in Hwagok-dong, where multi-family and row houses are densely located, to provide one-stop support services to victims. Starting with Gangseo-gu, the plan is to expand nationwide considering demand and conditions. The center will have about 10 staff members, including lawyers, judicial scriveners, certified real estate agents, and employees from the Korea Housing & Urban Guarantee Corporation, who will provide free legal consultations and guide various support programs such as temporary housing provision.

On the same day, the National Police Agency and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport also signed a business agreement for joint crackdowns on jeonse fraud. Since July, the two agencies have been conducting special crackdowns on jeonse fraud, regularly sharing key enforcement details to maintain a continuous cooperation system. Even after the crackdown ends, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport will actively share suspected jeonse fraud cases it identifies with the National Police Agency to strengthen investigative coordination.

In addition to the National Police Agency and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, a joint public-private declaration was announced by nine organizations including the Korea Housing & Urban Guarantee Corporation, the Korea Judicial Scriveners Association, the Korea Legal Aid Corporation, the Korea Association of Realtors, the Korean Bar Association, the Foundation for Low-Income Housing Finance, and Woori Bank. The declaration includes commitments from each organization to actively participate in discovering and operating various victim relief programs to ensure housing stability for victims of jeonse fraud who are in critical situations.

After the opening ceremony of the support center, Minister Won Hee-ryong of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport met with victims of jeonse fraud and said, "The government will take full responsibility to ensure that no one suffers from jeonse fraud again." He then visited a nearby real estate agent office to hear field opinions and urged real estate agents to play an active role in helping tenants conclude safe lease contracts. National Police Agency Commissioner Yoon Hee-geun emphasized, "Jeonse fraud is a serious malicious crime likened to 'economic murder' as it completely destroys the lives of individuals and families," and added, "We will concentrate all our capabilities to eradicate it."