Yoon Suk Yeol calls for measures to protect tenants from housing fraud

President Yoon Suk Yeol raises the issue of jeonse fraud, which has become a major social concern, during the cabinet meeting on Tuesday. [JOINT PRESS CORPS]

President Yoon Suk Yeol ordered the government to come up with thorough measures to help tenants who have fallen victim to housing fraud.

“Jeonse [long-term housing rent] crimes typically prey on the weak,” Yoon said Tuesday during the weekly cabinet meeting. “The victims of these tragic accidents are young people, our future generations.”

Yoon stressed that since taking office, his administration has been cracking down on jeonse fraud while increasing support for victims including by offering loans with low interest rates.

“Yet we continue to see more victims,” Yoon said. “We need to check again and again to make sure we leave no blind spot.”

The president's comment comes one day after a woman in her 30s committed suicide as she wasn’t able to recoup the 90 million won ($68,000) rent deposit after the house she was living in was auctioned off.

This was the third person who committed suicide after a malicious rent fraud.

BY LEE HO-JEONG [lee.hojeong@joongang.co.kr]