Gyeonggi-do, 52 Real Estate Agents Including Those Involved in Empty Lease Fraud 'Caught'

[Asia Economy (Suwon) = Reporter Lee Young-gyu] Gyeonggi Province has uncovered 58 cases of illegal brokerage activities, including "Kkangtong Jeonse" (Jeonse prices that are higher than or equal to sale prices), involving 52 licensed real estate agencies within the province.

From September 13 to October 24, Gyeonggi Province conducted a joint crackdown with city and county authorities on 533 licensed real estate agencies in the province. As a result, 58 violations of the Licensed Real Estate Agent Act and other illegal activities were detected, leading to administrative actions including 18 suspensions, 30 fines, 7 warnings, and 5 prosecutions (including overlaps), the province announced on the 3rd.

Among the major cases uncovered, a licensed real estate agency A located in Paldal-gu, Suwon City, knowingly brokered transactions with about 10 clients from 2021 despite being aware that the rental deposit insurance was difficult to obtain due to the landlord's arrears and the "Kkangtong Jeonse" listings. The agency falsely assured clients that the properties were safe and there was no need to worry. Later, even after the properties were seized and auctioned, tenants were unable to recover their Jeonse deposits because they were legally subordinated. Consequently, Suwon City filed charges against the representative of agency A and others.

Licensed real estate agency B in Uijeongbu City was fined for failing to post its brokerage office registration certificate, brokerage fee table, and business registration certificate in a visible place within the office. Licensed real estate agency C in Bucheon City was fined for advertising a property as if a building existed at the site, even though no building was present there.

The province took measures to ensure that administrative actions such as suspensions are carried out through the respective cities for the 52 agencies confirmed to have engaged in illegal activities.

Hong Ji-seon, Director of the Urban Housing Office of the province, stated, "We conducted guidance and inspections of licensed real estate agencies to eradicate illegal brokerage activities such as Kkangtong Jeonse fraud," and emphasized, "We will continue to conduct ongoing inspections of illegal brokerage activities to do our best to prevent harm to residents."

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