Jeonju City Criteria for Refunds and Penalties Regarding Mandatory Residency Violations for the 10,000 Won Youth Housing Program

If a tenant voluntarily withdraws from the Jeonju City 'Youth 10,000 Won Monthly Rent Housing' program after just eight months, they must repay 720,000 won to the city. This amounts to eight months of the monthly subsidy of 90,000 won—calculated by excluding the tenant's 10,000 won share from the 100,000 won monthly rent. This program operates on a 'support first, verify later' basis, providing benefits upfront and checking compliance later. Tenants who fail to complete the 12-month mandatory residency period from the initial move-in date are subject to full repayment of the monthly rent subsidies received. Therefore, understanding the repayment standards and procedures in advance is crucial to protecting one's net benefit.

The Price of 10,000 Won Monthly Rent is 'Settling in Jeonju', Premised on 12 Months of Mandatory Residency

Targeting Ages 19 to 39 with Support for Up to 2 Years of Residency

According to Jeonju City, this program targets youths aged 19 to 39, including employees of companies or organizations located in Jeonju, job seekers, and university students who meet specific income and asset requirements. Upon moving into a public or private rental housing unit within Jeonju City, the tenant pays only 10,000 won per month, with the city covering the remainder, for a residency period of up to two years. Aimed at addressing low birth rates and regional extinction by preventing youth outflow, the program requires a commitment to reside and settle in Jeonju in exchange for the support.

One Year is Shorter than General Public Housing, but Offers No Room for Evasion

While the mandatory residency period is less than half that of general public rental housing like Happy Housing (2–5 years), the risk lies in mid-term withdrawal. Unlike general rental housing that imposes penalties in the form of liquidated damages, this program requires the full repayment of the monthly rent subsidies received. Analysts suggest this is an anchoring strategy to bind youth to the region, and there is a prevailing view that repayment standards will not be lenient given the policy's intent.

Three Reasons for Repayment and the Structure of the Calculation Formula

Voluntary Cancellation, False Residency, and Moving Out of the Area are All Violations

There are three main reasons triggering the repayment obligation. First is voluntary mid-term withdrawal due to personal circumstances such as job changes, marriage, or graduation before the one-year mark. Second is false reporting and failure to actually reside in the unit while pretending to live there. Third is moving one's official residence outside of Jeonju City, which is a prerequisite of the program.

Repayment Calculation Accumulates on a Monthly Basis

The calculation method is simple. The full amount of monthly rent subsidies paid up to the point of violation must be returned. The formula is the monthly rent of the unit minus 10,000 won, multiplied by the number of months of support received.

If a tenant withdraws before completing the mandatory one-year residency period, the full amount of monthly rent subsidies paid up to the time of violation must be returned to Jeonju City.

For a unit with a monthly rent of 100,000 won, moving out after 8 months would require a payment of 720,000 won (90,000 won x 8). Applying the same formula to a unit with a monthly rent of 300,000 won, moving out after 6 months would require a lump sum payment of 1.74 million won (290,000 won x 6). As the claim increases proportionally to the duration of stay, the burden of mid-term withdrawal is greater for units with higher market rent.

Reduction Regulations Exist but are Hard to Qualify For

Jeonju City’s 'Regulations on the Operation of Youth 10,000 Won Monthly Rent Housing' do include provisions for partial reductions. However, except for unavoidable circumstances like natural disasters or illness, the principle is full repayment for voluntary withdrawals, and interpretations are becoming increasingly strict. While in the past there were cases of offsetting with settlement support funds, the city's current operating policy is that repayment measures for monthly rent subsidies have been strengthened.

Failure to Pay Leads to Delinquency Procedures and Exclusion from Future Support

Local Tax Delinquency Processing and Strengthened Verification of Actual Residency

If the repayment amount is not paid by the deadline, administrative procedures such as local tax delinquency processing will proceed. One must consider that the aftermath of having a delinquency record is far greater than the monetary amount itself. Additionally, verification of actual residency has been noticeably strengthened. In the past, checks were limited to the address on the moving-in register, but recently, cases of verification through field visits by administrative welfare center officials or utility payment records are increasing. Simply moving one's belongings and living elsewhere will be classified as false reporting immediately upon detection.

Restrictions on Future Housing Support Applications

The disadvantages do not end there. If the repayment obligation is not fulfilled, applicants will face disadvantages when applying for other housing support projects led by Jeonju City, such as losing bonus points or being excluded from selection. Recommendations for Happy Housing are a representative example. Trying to save a few tens of thousands of won in monthly benefits can result in losing larger support opportunities for several years, making it an arithmetic loss.

Procedures to Minimize Loss When Moving Out is Unavoidable

One Month's Notice and Presentation of Verifiable Reasons

If moving out is unavoidable, procedure comes first. The landlord and the administrative welfare center must be notified at least one month prior to moving out. Simple dissatisfaction with the housing is not accepted as a valid reason; verifiable reasons such as nursing care for parents or employment overseas must be presented to consult on the possibility of partial reduction. It should be noted that approval for withdrawal is granted only after the rent subsidy difference is reconciled and refunded to the city.

Items to Check Before and During Move-In

The most certain response is a decision before applying. If there is even a slight possibility of moving within a year, one should reconsider applying. When moving in, one must carefully check if the lease agreement specifies 'Jeonju City Youth 10,000 Won Monthly Rent Housing Tenant' and if the one-year residency commitment agreement was signed. If employment in another region is scheduled, adjusting the move-out date to exactly one year after the move-in date is a practical way to achieve zero repayment.

In a 'support first, verify later' structure, strict application of repayment rules seems inevitable. For youths, understanding this system not as a simple subsidy but as a contract exchanging a one-year settlement commitment is the shortcut to preventing loss. It is safest to directly confirm eligibility for reduction reasons and the latest announcement details with the Jeonju City youth policy department.