Seoul City Publishes E-Book to Prevent Jeonse Fraud Among Young Adults

Real-Life Cases of Trust Housing and "Can Jeonse" Fraud Types Presented
Available for Viewing and Free Download on the Seoul Housing Portal

On October 13, the Seoul Metropolitan Government announced the publication of a guidebook for preventing jeonse fraud, titled "Jeonse Contract, Not Afraid: Jeonse Fraud Prevention A to Z," aimed at young adults and those new to society.

E-book cover of 'Jeonse Contract, Not Afraid: Jeonse Fraud Prevention A to Z'. Provided by Seoul City

The guidebook provides practical information that can be used directly at contract sites, including how to check housing prices before signing a contract, understanding prior-ranking rights, a checklist for licensed real estate agents, and instructions for writing special contract terms.

It offers a step-by-step guide covering: before the contract-how to research housing prices, calculate the jeonse price ratio, check for prior-ranking rights, and review the building register; during the contract-verifying the landlord's identity, required contract details, drafting special clauses, and key points for real estate agents; and after the contract-reporting your move-in, applying for a fixed date, enrolling in jeonse deposit insurance, and confirming the rights of previous tenants.

Instead of dry explanations, the entire leasing process is explained in a conversational format. For young people familiar with social media, key points are summarized through infographics and checklists. In particular, the guide uses a Q&A format to address questions such as "What is the jeonse price ratio?" and "When should I get a fixed date?"

The guide also features real-life contract examples focused on small housing units commonly occupied by young adults, such as studios, one-bedrooms, and officetels. It provides detailed precautions and response strategies for various situations, from jeonse deposits under 100 million won, to new officetels and apartments.

As jeonse fraud schemes targeting young adults become more sophisticated, the guide separately analyzes and presents common types of fraud. For example, in cases of "trust housing" fraud, where a trustee illegally signs a contract for a property owned by a trust company, making it impossible to recover the deposit, the guide explains this structure in easy-to-understand terms. It also provides step-by-step instructions on how to check the trust register and obtain consent from the trust company.

The guide introduces actual cases of damage to highlight high-risk situations, such as "can jeonse" properties with high jeonse price ratios and one-room units violating building codes, where young people are easily lured by low deposits. For each risk scenario, there is a "Must Check This" section summarizing key checkpoints at a glance.

The guidebook is available as an e-book and can be accessed via mobile devices. It can be downloaded for free from the Seoul Housing Portal and is also available through the Seoul Library's e-book service.

Choi Jinseok, Director of Housing at the Seoul Metropolitan Government, stated, "We will continue to promote practical policy content and administrative services so that young adults can safely sign their first contracts as 'prepared tenants' from the very beginning."

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