Gyeonggi Province announced that it has recommended institutional improvements to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport to ensure that foreign nationals residing legally in South Korea can also receive government support for jeonse (lump-sum deposit lease) fraud damage.

Specifically, the province requested a plan allowing the Korea Land and Housing Corporation to purchase the damaged homes of foreign victims and enable them to continue living there as part of emergency housing support.

It also proposed including foreign victims among eligible recipients for low-interest jeonse loan support utilizing the Housing and Urban Fund, as well as refinancing loans to replace existing jeonse loans.

Under the current system, foreigners can be recognized as jeonse fraud victims, but they are excluded from major support programs such as the supply of public rental housing and financial support utilizing the Housing and Urban Fund.

Gyeonggi Province maintains that considering the intent of the Jeonse Fraud Victim Act, which was implemented to resolve housing instability for victims, the current system—which excludes individuals from major support based on their nationality—needs to be improved.

The Head of the Housing Policy Division at Gyeonggi Province stated, "It is necessary to establish an institutional foundation so that foreign jeonse fraud victims with a living base in the country 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 related organizations."

Reported by Jung Da-eun | Video by Choi Gang-san | Graphics by Lee Jeong-ju | Produced by SBS Digital News