Lawsuits Over Jeonse Fraud Rise in Incheon... Police Raid Real Estate Agencies

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyesook] As residents in Incheon have filed consecutive complaints about apartment and officetel jeonse fraud, the police have launched a forced investigation.

The Metropolitan Investigation Unit of the Incheon Police Agency conducted searches and seizures at 10 locations, including real estate agencies and landlords' residences in Michuhol-gu, Incheon, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the 26th, securing apartment and officetel jeonse contracts.

The police received over 100 complaints related to jeonse fraud recently filed at the Michuhol Police Station in Incheon and carried out the searches to secure evidence.

Many of the tenants who filed complaints with the police reportedly claimed that they could not recover their jeonse deposits because the apartment or officetel buildings were auctioned off by the court.

They alleged that real estate agents and landlords colluded to deceive them into signing contracts by presenting properties with established mortgage liens as safe, thus claiming to be victims of jeonse fraud.

Previously, in Michuhol-gu, cases where entire apartment or officetel buildings consisting of one or two blocks were auctioned off by the court, resulting in tenants being unable to recover their jeonse deposits, occurred repeatedly.

A police official stated, "We will analyze the materials secured through the searches to determine whether jeonse fraud has been established," adding, "The exact number of apartments or officetels involved in the jeonse fraud allegations has not yet been accurately identified."

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