Criticism that tenant measures were left out of the housing price normalization policy

After the government announced its 2026 tax reform plan, concerns were raised that the burden on tenants in the jeonse and monthly rent market could increase. The article reported that, through cases in Songpagu, Seoul, and Uijeongbu, Gyeonggi Province, landlords' changes to rental terms and the burden of jeonse contract expiration are directly putting pressure on tenants. The key issue is whether tax benefits centered on owneroccupancy could lead to a decrease in rental listings and an increase in jeonse and monthly rent prices. Experts pointed out that housing stability should take priority over price stability and tax normalization, and that, in particular, supply measures for the nonapartment rental market, such as villas, which has been weakened since jeonse fraud cases, are also necessary. According to the article, in the first half of this year, both jeonse and monthly rents for apartments in Seoul rose compared with the second half of last year. Real estate researchers and industry officials criticized the lack of separate measures for tenants and emphasized that incentives and financial support to increase private rental supply should be implemented in parallel.