"Why Are They Treating the Generation That Elected Moon Like This?"...Frustration of a Childless Couple in Their 40s Without a Home

A petition appealing for improvements to the subscription system. Photo by Cheongwoedae National Petition Board capture

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Soyoung] A petition from a 40s-aged non-homeowner appealing for improvements to the subscription system has been posted, arguing reverse discrimination after the government expanded special supply for newlyweds and first-time homebuyers to improve the difficult situation of owning a home due to soaring house prices.

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 wander without owning a single home due to private education expenses" was uploaded on the Blue House National Petition Board.

The petitioner, who introduced themselves as a "couple in their mid-40s," stated, "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 non-homeowner points, so we have been living in jeonse for several years, hoping to apply for housing subscription."

The petitioner, who has two elementary school children, recently exercised the right to request contract renewal from the landlord under the Lease Protection Act (Imdaecha 3-beop) implemented since July last year. This law allows the lease contract to be extended once, but limits the deposit increase rate to within 5%.

However, they said, "When I told the landlord I was exercising the right to request contract renewal, they said either raise the rent by 200 million won or move out. Since both our children are elementary school students, we had to live here one more time, so I couldn't even ask if we could stay here."

They added, "When I asked a real estate agent, the landlord lies about moving in themselves and said that even if they take in tenants, raising the jeonse by 100 million won to earn 300 million won is more profitable, so the 15 million won compensation cost is nothing, and it is more beneficial to bring in new tenants."

They then questioned, "Should we claim compensation? Does the government really think that ordinary citizens, especially tenants who are dual-income couples, can claim compensation two years later?"

This is interpreted as questioning the effectiveness of the compensation regulation, which the government introduced as a safeguard when implementing the right to request contract renewal.

The petitioner appealed, "The frustration I feel is so severe that I think I might even commit suicide," and urged, "Please create a realistic system by either simplifying the compensation claim procedure, increasing fines, or abolishing the right to request contract renewal."

They added, "Even after working hard and saving for 10 years as a dual-income household, we are fools who cannot ride the wave of Seoul house prices that rise by 100 million won for someone who bought a house with a loan just yesterday."

They continued, "Non-homeowners trying to buy a house should be given loan relief," and expressed frustration, "The only subscription systems available are for newlywed hope towns, public sales, or first-time buyers?"

They criticized, "I think the government should not do this," and said, "Is this how you treat the 40s and 50s generations who support this country's taxes and who trusted and voted for the Moon Jae-in administration four years ago?"

They expressed dissatisfaction, saying, "Are dual-income non-homeowners raising elementary and middle school children and paying taxes supposed to live in jeonse from newlywed homeowners and accumulate (subscription) points?"

The petitioner requested, "Please improve the subscription system so that newlyweds and first-time buyers do not feel frustration and exclusion from society," and asked, "Please consider the 40s generation who have been marginalized so far and create policies accordingly."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.