"Another Victim of 'Construction King' Jeonse Fraud Dies... 'Implement Practical Measures'"

Victim of the Geonchukwang Incident... Second Death

[Image source=Yonhap News]

A victim who failed to recover their rental deposit from the so-called 'Construction King,' who was arrested and indicted on charges of a 12 billion won rental fraud, was found dead once again.

According to the Incheon Police and the National Countermeasures Committee for Rental Fraud and Empty Rental Property Victims (the Committee) on the 15th, a man in his 20s, Mr. A, was found dead around 8 p.m. the previous day in a multi-family house in Michuhol-gu, Incheon. Items presumed to have been used for an extreme act were found in Mr. A's room, but no suicide note was discovered.

According to the Committee, Mr. A had been active in the Michuhol-gu Rental Fraud Victims Countermeasures Committee until February after suffering damages by not receiving his rental deposit back from a builder, Mr. B (61), known as the Construction King.

The multi-family house where Mr. A lived had been subject to a voluntary auction (secured creditor's execution auction), and it is reported that Mr. A had not been able to recover his rental deposit until recently. When he moved in August 2019, the rental deposit was 68 million won, but at the time of renewal in August 2021, it was reportedly increased to 90 million won.

This is not the first time a victim who failed to recover their deposit from Mr. B has been found dead. On February 28, a victim in his 30s who could not recover a 70 million won deposit was found dead in a villa in Michuhol-gu. In a suicide note left as a memo on his mobile phone, the victim wrote, "The government's measures regarding rental fraud are very disappointing, and I can no longer endure this. I hope my decision will help resolve this issue."

The Committee stated, "According to members, Mr. A had been suffering greatly until recently after the rental fraud incident," and added, "At the request of the bereaved family, no funeral hall will be set up, and the funeral will be held quietly, but they agreed to the news being shared as a rental fraud victim."

The Committee also appealed, "Since the death of one person in February, we have hoped no further victims would arise and have demanded the government form an inter-ministerial task force (TF) to resolve the rental fraud issue and provide sufficient relief measures. However, the government has only repeated postponements and superficial measures instead of solutions," and urged, "The government must stop the successive deaths of rental fraud victims. Please establish an inter-ministerial TF involving all relevant departments and prepare practical measures that truly help the victims."

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