World · East Asia & Pacific · 2 hrs ago
South Korean police identify 3,565 suspects in real estate crime crackdown
South Korean police identified 3,565 people suspected of real estate crimes during a special crackdown that began in October 2025.
They referred 2,151 suspects to prosecutors, while 16 people were formally arrested.
The biggest group, 898 people, was suspected of farmland speculation; others were accused of fraudulent apartment applications or illegal brokerage, including inflating home prices.
Police also froze 14.79 billion won in suspected illegal profits and alerted authorities about 616 people for possible administrative penalties.
The crackdown has been extended through October 2027 as the government seeks to curb rising housing prices.
Separately, police referred 2,525 suspects in a yearlong crackdown on jeonse lease fraud, and arrested 59.
Jeonse tenants pay a large deposit instead of monthly rent, and fraud can leave them unable to recover that money.
South Korean police identified 3,565 people suspected of real estate-related crimes during a special crackdown.
Police referred 2,151 people to prosecutors and formally arrested 16.
Farmland speculation was the largest category, involving 898 people, or 25.2 percent of those identified.
Police froze 14.79 billion won in suspected illegal profits.
The crackdown has been extended through the end of October 2027 amid efforts to curb rising housing prices.
- Who
- South Korean police identified 3,565 people suspected of real estate-related crimes.
- What
- Police referred 2,151 to prosecutors and formally arrested 16.
- When
- The crackdown began in October 2025. Police reported the results on November 10, 2026.
- Where
- South Korea.
- Why
- The crackdown targets real estate-related crimes amid government efforts to curb runaway housing prices.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Police began the yearlong special crackdown on real estate-related crimes.
Police reported that 3,565 people had been identified and 2,151 referred to prosecutors.
The special crackdown is scheduled to end after being extended by one year.
- People identified
- 3,565
- Referred to prosecutors
- 2,151
- Formally arrested
- 16
- Largest crime category
- Farmland speculation: 898 people, or 25.2 percent
- Frozen suspected illegal profits
- 14.79 billion won (US$11.02 million)
- Crackdown extension
- Through the end of October 2027