In a shocking twist straight out of a K-drama, beloved actress Seo Hyun Jin—known for her powerful roles in Another Miss Oh, Why Her?, and You Are My Spring—has become one of the most high-profile victims of jeonse fraud, a real estate scam that’s been wreaking havoc across South Korea.

According to court auction records revealed on June 3, Seo Hyun Jin filed for a forced auction to recover her massive 2.6 billion KRW (about $1.9 million USD) deposit for a luxury villa in Seoul’s upscale Cheongdam-dongneighborhood. The actress originally entered the jeonse contract in 2020, increasing her deposit during a 2022 renewal—but when her lease ended in April 2024, the landlord failed to return the funds.

Left with no choice, Seo registered her tenant’s rights in court and officially moved out. The villa is currently on the auction block, but the first sale attempt failed. Now, the minimum bid has dropped to 2.299 billion KRW (~$1.64 million USD)—a figure that, if not exceeded, could leave Seo at a substantial loss.

The next auction date is set for June 17, and fans are holding their breath to see if the actress can reclaim what she’s owed.

Jeonse Fraud: A Widening Crisis

For those unfamiliar, jeonse is a unique Korean rental system where tenants pay a large lump-sum deposit in lieu of monthly rent. When the lease ends, the landlord is supposed to return the full deposit—but in recent years, fraudulent practices and falling property values have turned this tradition into a ticking time bomb for thousands of residents.

Even A-list stars like Seo Hyun Jin are not immune.

"This really drives home the scale of the problem. If someone as careful and prominent as Seo can be targeted, what hope is there for ordinary renters?" a concerned netizen commented online.

A New Chapter Ahead?

Seo Hyun Jin has since relocated to a secure apartment in Oksu-dong, which she purchased outright in 2018 for 1.5 billion KRW (~$1.07 million) in cash—a smart move that now seems like a lifeline amid the jeonse crisis.

While this real-life drama is unfolding in the courts, fans continue to show unwavering support, sending messages of hope and strength to the actress who’s brought so many characters to life on screen.

As the jeonse crisis continues to unfold, Seo’s case is a glaring reminder that stronger tenant protections are urgently needed—because no one, not even celebrities, is safe from the hidden cracks in the real estate system.