Prime Minister Han Deok-su: "Will Prevent Jeonse Fraud from Taking Root, Must Be Cautious with Public Purchases"

Third Death from Jeonse Fraud Victims Already
Prime Minister Says "Will Revise Jeonse Fraud Measures"

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo emphasized on the 19th that “the most important thing is to create an environment where jeonse fraud itself cannot take root.” However, he expressed concerns that the government's plan to purchase buildings affected by jeonse fraud might raise issues of fairness.

At a press conference held at the Government Complex Sejong on the same day, Prime Minister Han said, “Since the current administration took office, we have been diligently working on measures against jeonse fraud from early on,” but added, “It seems there are still difficulties, and we will work to address those issues.”

The number of victims affected by jeonse fraud continues to rise. On the 17th, a victim of jeonse fraud in the Michuhol District of Incheon tragically took their own life. This marks the third death related to jeonse fraud. On the same day, the police received a report of suspected jeonse fraud in the Dongtan area of Gyeonggi Province. The industry is concerned that similar cases may emerge in the second half of this year, considering the gap investment trend that was prevalent in 2021.

In the political sphere, efforts have begun to devise alternatives for victim relief and prevention. President Yoon Suk-yeol was briefed by Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Won Hee-ryong on the suspension or postponement of auction schedules and instructed that these measures be implemented. The ruling party, the People Power Party, is considering options such as public acquisition of houses affected by jeonse fraud or granting victims priority purchase rights. Meanwhile, the Democratic Party of Korea has announced plans to enact a special law centered on “support first, then claim reimbursement.”

However, Prime Minister Han explained, “The relevant ministries will discuss and implement auction postponements and come up with solutions,” but added, “The method of purchasing (the buildings) must be approached cautiously due to fairness issues.” This implies that if the government supports the purchase of affected properties, there could be significant disparities in compensation compared to past victims of jeonse fraud.

Regarding the Gimpo Urban Railway (Gimpo Gold Line), which has been controversial due to high congestion rates, he acknowledged that government measures have been insufficient. Prime Minister Han stated, “Since February this year, trains have been dispatched every 3.5 minutes during certain times, but we recognize the seriousness of the issue and will take additional measures,” adding, “We are aware of the severity, but the measures taken so far seem inadequate. We will make improvements where necessary.”

Addressing criticism that the government's eco-friendly goals are causing difficulties for businesses, he said, “It is an undeniable fact that reducing greenhouse gases is more challenging for Korea than for Europe,” and added, “It is difficult for our companies to transition energy primarily through renewables and nuclear power given the circumstances.” He further stated, “The government must gather various opinions, formulate plans, and ensure that greenhouse gas reduction targets are met.”

Regarding rumors of a cabinet reshuffle circulating around the Presidential Office, Prime Minister Han dismissed them, saying, “It is difficult to say that such movements are underway.” He elaborated, “The President has also stated that he will not reshuffle the cabinet just to change the atmosphere,” emphasizing, “Doing the work well and diligently is the most important thing.”

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