Gyeonggi Province announced on August 9 that it has proposed to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport to revise relevant laws and guidelines so that foreign victims of jeonse fraud who are legally residing in South Korea can also receive government support.

Specifically, the province requested a measure allowing the Korea Land and Housing Corporation (LH) to purchase damaged homes of foreign victims and enable them to continue living in those residences as part of emergency housing support.

In addition, the province proposed including foreign victims among the eligible recipients for low-interest jeonse deposit loans utilizing the Housing and Urban Fund, as well as refinancing loans to replace existing jeonse loans.

The current Special Act on Jeonse Fraud Victims does not explicitly exclude foreigners from the requirements for victim recognition.

However, foreigners are excluded from major support targets, such as the provision of public rental housing and financial support utilizing the Housing and Urban Fund.

Kim Tae-soo, head of the Housing Policy Division at Gyeonggi Province, said, "It is necessary to establish an institutional foundation so that foreign victims of jeonse fraud who have established their livelihoods in South Korea can also reside stably in their damaged homes and receive necessary financial support," adding, "We will continue our efforts to achieve institutional improvements through close consultations with relevant organizations."

(Photo provided by Gyeonggi Province, Yonhap News)