Building number plates with QR codes enable instant reporting anytime, anywhere; confirmed date automatically assigned; lease information portal also launched
Seoul's Yongsan-gu has become the first district in the country to offer a housing lease registration service using QR codes attached to building number plates.
Residents can now scan a QR code with their smartphone camera to file a lease report on the spot, without visiting a community center or logging into a separate online system.
The district built the "mobile instant reporting" system by leveraging more than 14,000 building number plates fitted with QR codes across the area, allowing lease registrations to be filed at any time and from any location.
Previously, tenants had to either visit a community center in person or access a separate online reporting system to register a housing lease.
With the new service, tenants can complete the reporting process right at the lease-signing site by scanning the QR code on the building's number plate. The move shifts lease registration away from a trip to a government office and into everyday life.
The service is expected to ease the burden on young residents and working professionals who find it difficult to visit community centers during weekday business hours, and to help prevent missed filings that can result from a lack of awareness about the reporting requirement.
The housing lease reporting requirement applies to contracts with a deposit exceeding 60 million won ($45,000) or a monthly rent exceeding 300,000 won. Tenants must file within 30 days of signing the contract; failure to do so can result in a fine of up to 1 million won. Once a report is submitted, a confirmed date is automatically assigned, simplifying the process of protecting the tenant's deposit.
The district has also built a "Lease Contract Information Plaza" on the Yongsan-gu website — accessible under District Information → Real Estate/Land → Real Estate — where residents can find all housing lease-related information in one place. The portal provides access to real estate registration certificate services, information on the jeonse fraud victim support center and other relevant agencies, and an online consultation window for housing lease inquiries.
"Housing lease registration is an important administrative procedure closely tied to residents' property rights, so it is essential to create an environment where they can file easily and conveniently," Yongsan-gu District Mayor Kim Kyung-dae said. "We will continue to combine existing administrative infrastructure with digital technology to develop practical, everyday public services that residents can truly feel."
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