[Anchor] Did a resident who pressured others not to list their apartments below a certain price in an apartment resident chat room get referred to the prosecutors?

[Reporter] Yes. A resident of an apartment complex in Seoul, identified as A, has been accused of leading housing price collusion by repeatedly posting messages in a group chat room for residents between June and November of last year, urging them not to list properties below a specific price.

[Anchor] What else did they do?

[Reporter] In addition, A branded real estate agents who listed properties lower than the desired price as "manipulative realtors," accusing them of trying to drive down prices.

[Anchor] Did this interfere with real estate business operations as well?

[Reporter] Yes. A even dismissed properly registered listings as fake advertisements intended to drop housing prices, thereby obstructing the business operations of real estate agents.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government's Judicial Police Service referred A to the prosecution on charges of violating the Certified Public Realtors Act.

Current law stipulates that obstructing brokerage activities or preventing transactions below a certain price is punishable by up to three years in prison or a fine of up to 30 million won.

If citizens report such activities to the Seoul Metropolitan Government along with decisive evidence, they can receive a reward of up to 200 million won in accordance with relevant ordinances.

(Photo courtesy of: Seoul Metropolitan Government)