Incheon 'Jeonse Fraud' Victim Third to Commit Suicide... Nationwide Countermeasure Committee to Launch Tomorrow

Amid reports that three victims of jeonse fraud in Incheon have taken extreme measures, a nationwide victim countermeasure committee is set to launch on the 18th.

The "National Countermeasure Committee for Jeonse Fraud and Empty Jeonse Victims" announced on the 17th that it plans to hold a press conference at the south plaza of Juan Station in Incheon on the afternoon of the 18th to officially begin its activities.

The committee appealed, "Government measures regarding the jeonse fraud and empty jeonse crisis have not been of much help to the victims, and the criteria for loan support or emergency housing assistance are too strict to be accepted easily," adding, "The victims' demands for a comprehensive damage survey, filling the blind spots in government policies, and customized financial support have not been accepted at all."

They further explained the background for launching the nationwide victim countermeasure committee, stating, "The damage is spreading not only in the metropolitan area but also nationwide, including Busan, Gwangju, Daejeon, Pohang, and Jeju, making it urgent for the government and political circles to prepare active support measures."

At the launch ceremony, the committee plans to reveal its future activity plans and hold a memorial event for the deceased victims of jeonse fraud.

The Michuhol-gu Jeonse Fraud Victim Countermeasure Committee held a press conference on the 14th in front of the Government Seoul Office, urging a temporary suspension of auctions for houses affected by jeonse fraud. April 14, 2023.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

Meanwhile, in Incheon, on the same day that two victims of jeonse fraud took extreme measures in February, another victim was found dead.

According to the Michuhol Police Station in Incheon, at around 2:12 a.m., a woman in her 30s, identified as Ms. A, was found unconscious in an apartment in Michuhol-gu, Incheon, but she died while being transported to the hospital.

Investigations revealed that Ms. A was a victim who had not received her jeonse deposit back from the so-called "Construction King" and had filed a police report.

According to the Michuhol-gu Jeonse Fraud Victim Countermeasure Committee, Ms. A signed a jeonse contract in September 2019 with a deposit of 72 million won and renewed the contract in September 2021 at the landlord's request, increasing the deposit to 90 million won.

However, the apartment where Ms. A lived was reportedly auctioned off entirely in June last year due to jeonse fraud, affecting about 60 households.

The apartment was completed in 2017, and only jeonse deposits of 80 million won or less were eligible for a priority compensation of 27 million won; accordingly, Ms. A was in a situation where she could not recover any of her deposit.

The "Construction King," Mr. B, along with real estate agents and others, was arrested and indicted last month on charges of embezzling 12.5 billion won in jeonse deposits from tenants across 161 apartments and villas in the Michuhol-gu area between January and July last year.

Previously, on February 14 and 28, two victims in their 20s and 30s who had not received their deposits back from Mr. B were also found dead.

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