Former Crayon Pop member and actress Way recently revealed that she fell victim to a "Jeonse" scam, shocking fans.

On November 11, Way posted a video titled 'Long-Distance Start + Jeonse Scam... Will I Be Okay?' on her YouTube channel, 'WayLand,' where she detailed her experience as a victim.

In the video, Way, with a troubled expression, disclosed, "It seems I fell for a Jeonse scam. I haven’t been able to recover the money, which is commonly known as a Jeonse scam."

In South Korea, there is a unique housing lease system called "Jeonse" where tenants provide a large, interest-free, deposit - usually amounting to 50 to 80% of the property's value -  instead of paying rent. At the end of a typical two-year lease, the landlord would return the full deposit to the tenant.

She explained that despite having insurance with the Korea Housing & Urban Guarantee Corporation (HUG), she is still facing difficulties.

She explained, "Having HUG insurance doesn’t mean everything is resolved. To recover the deposit, you need to prepare a lot of documentation, and only after not receiving payment from the landlord for over two months can you begin the process of claiming, I still haven’t been paid."

Way expressed her frustration, saying, "I haven’t been able to move, and the loan interest keeps piling up while the landlord is unreachable."

A breakdown in communication with landlords is a common problem for victims of Jeonse scams, and they often have to invest significant time and effort in legal procedures to recover their deposits.

Way visited the court to obtain the necessary documents and went in person to the local office and HUG branch to navigate the complex process. Heading to the bank afterward, she vented her frustration, saying, "Give me back my money, seriously."

Way’s experience with a Jeonse scam reflects the recent surge in similar cases. In 2023, the number of Jeonse scam victims rose nationwide, making it a growing social issue.

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