"Jeonse Fraud Disaster, Do This First"...Gangseo-gu Office Lawyer's Solution

"Legal Procedures Are Difficult and Litigation Costs Burdensome"
Gangseo-gu Office Steps in to Support Tenants' Appeals
"Deposit Return Lawsuit and Payment Order Application Are Essential"
Attorney Lee Si-hoon Shares Strategies to Reduce Damage
District Mayor: "We Will Do Our Best to Help Victims"

The suffering of victims who have fallen prey to jeonse fraud continues. On the 20th, Gangseo-gu, Seoul, held a "Jeonse Victim Tenant Litigation Procedure Education" at the Gangseo-gu Community Center.
(Photo by Minjin Kim enter@)

“What would you do if you were a victim of a jeonse fraud?”

Lee Si-hoon, legal advisor to Gangseo District Office and partner lawyer at Sugar Square Law Firm, says this is one of the most frequently asked questions during consultations on jeonse fraud cases. This question, posed to a real estate specialist lawyer, reflects the desperation of tenants who are on the brink of losing their entire assets due to jeonse fraud and are desperately searching for solutions.

About 100 people gathered last Saturday afternoon, the 20th, at the Gangseo-gu Community Center in Seoul. These are people suffering from jeonse fraud damage or those who suspect they are victims, struggling to find solutions and feeling lost about where and how to seek help.

On this day, Gangseo-gu organized and held a “Lawsuit Procedure Training for Jeonse Fraud Victims.” This was one of the follow-up support measures for victims, following the “Comprehensive Survey on Jeonse Fraud Victims” report meeting held by Gangseo-gu in November last year, where victims unanimously appealed, “Legal procedures are complicated and difficult, and the cost of hiring a lawyer is burdensome, so please help us through the district office.”

During the session, lawyer Lee explained, “Some may think, ‘I’m already suffering from jeonse fraud, so do I really have to go through a lawsuit?’ But if you are a victim of jeonse fraud, there are essential steps you must take, among which filing a lawsuit for the return of the lease deposit or applying for a payment order is mandatory.” He emphasized that there are things that must be done unconditionally for recovery or escape from the situation, and essential tasks should be completed first before proceeding with subsequent procedures as the timing allows.

He added, “You should at least file a lawsuit for the return of the lease deposit or apply for a payment order, and then decide whether to proceed with a compulsory auction depending on the situation. Don’t just wait for legislation related to jeonse fraud relief; you must take necessary actions.”

The lecture focused mainly on practical matters such as how to draft a complaint for the return of the deposit, how to apply for a payment order, and how to file a complaint electronically. It also covered procedures for public and private sales, how to apply for a compulsory auction, and explained the pros and cons of scenarios victims might ultimately choose, such as exercising the tenant’s preferential purchase right or waiving the right to oppose.

Attorney Lee Si-hoon, who served as an instructor for the "Jeonse Fraud Victim Tenant Litigation Procedure Training," stated, "It is difficult to live bound by the damage caused by Jeonse fraud for many years," adding, "You must firmly resolve yourself and focus on minimizing the damage." (Photo by the subject)

Questions poured in: “What should I do if the landlord has passed away?” “I thought I was the senior tenant, but there is a national tax lien of 4 billion won,” “The landlord was arrested; do I still need to file a separate lawsuit for the deposit return?” “I put the property up for auction, but what if no one bids?” The training session went well beyond the scheduled time.

Lawyer Lee said, “Whether you entrust the lawsuit to a lawyer or handle it yourself, you need to understand what a lawsuit is, how long it takes, and the procedures involved to reduce the stress and anxiety caused by uncertainty. At minimum, some study is absolutely necessary.”

Jin Gyo-hoon, head of Gangseo District Office, said, “We are continuously identifying suggestions and system improvement measures through online and offline communication channels with current victims, and we are working to expand cooperation systems with related agencies. We will do our best to help victims until the jeonse fraud issue is properly resolved.”