Experts Claim "Lease 3 Laws Deepen Rights Protection Imbalance, Trigger Social Conflicts"

[Asia Economy Reporter Ryu Tae-min] There has been a claim that the current government's three lease laws deepen the imbalance in rights protection and cause social conflicts.

On the 17th, at the Fair Housing Forum's inaugural seminar held in the 2nd conference room of the National Assembly Members' Office Building in Yeouido, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, Dr. Song Hyun-dam, the first presenter on the topic of "Problems and Alternatives of the Three Lease Laws," criticized the government policy with this assertion. Dr. Song stated, "The right to request contract renewal and the rent ceiling system have positive aspects in protecting tenants' rights, but there is a possibility that landlords' rights are restricted," adding, "Lease contracts fall under the realm of private autonomy, and if the state excessively expands tenants' rights and restricts landlords' rights, the judicial order will be damaged."

He continued, "Due to the lease laws, landlords' property rights and freedom of residence and movement, which are guaranteed as fundamental rights by the constitution, may be restricted," and said, "There is also a possibility that the right to pursue happiness as freedom of action for both landlords and tenants, as well as the right to pursue happiness as a comprehensive freedom right, could be infringed."

Furthermore, he argued that the application of the rent ceiling system to new lease contracts should be approached cautiously, considering the comparative weighing of legal interests between landlords and tenants. He claimed that the new government launching next year should meticulously establish and implement a market-friendly housing policy roadmap to end the current market confusion and uncertainty.

On the same day, Professor Lee Hyuk-joo of Seoul National University of Science and Technology gave the second presentation titled "The Solution to Housing Problems is High-Density Development." Professor Lee stated, "Statistically, every time the current government announced policies, house prices rose, and when additional measures were introduced in response, house prices rose even more," asserting, "The cause of the recent housing price surge over the past few years is government policy." He added, "Progressive scholars claim that recent housing supply is greater than the average of the past 5 to 10 years, but they fail to prove that the supply is sufficient," calling it "an argument based on an unproven proposition."

Meanwhile, Professor Kim Jun-hwan of Seoul Digital University, the third presenter on the topic of "Measures to Revitalize Real Estate Transactions," said, "Due to the price ceiling system, new housing supply has decreased, and due to capital gains tax, the supply of existing housing has also declined," emphasizing, "There is a need to comprehensively improve various tax systems and regulations."

The event was co-hosted by Lee Heon-seung, Chairman of the National Assembly Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee, and the Fair Housing Forum. The seminar was attended by Kim Ki-hyun, floor leader of the People Power Party, assembly members Kwon Seong-dong and Kim Do-eup, as well as many academics including Seo Jin-hyung, president of the Korea Real Estate Society, and Yoon Ju-seon, professor at the Graduate School of Architecture and Urban Planning at Hongik University.

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