Due to their possessiveness about and obsession with real estate in this globalizing world, many South Koreans are not able to be free from the damage and pressure their pre-modern real estate transaction culture brings about.
Compared with some othe...
Due to their possessiveness about and obsession with real estate in this globalizing world, many South Koreans are not able to be free from the damage and pressure their pre-modern real estate transaction culture brings about.
Compared with some other countries which have a huge territory like the United States, the amount of real estate supply is very small in South Korea. With the narrow territory inhibiting its real estate market from growing bigger, real estate investment in the country have been concentrated upon some major segments, like the New Towns and the 3 Gangnam wards, following the government’s announcement of development plans.
From the numerous real estate transactions conducted on such mentality, a wrong transaction culture has perpetuated itself, creating some conflict throughout the society and between its individuals and enterprises. In this context, it can be said some cognitive change to improve the real-estate transaction culture is urgent.
Currently in South Korea, real estate brokerage is still in its pre-modern, immature state. For those who acquire realty-related, de facto rights, it is noteworthy of some attention that such immature transactions are somewhat dangerous in many aspects.
The absolute majority of South Koreans have taken it for granted to pay a large sum of down payment before acquiring real estate, bringing about some unexpected, realty transaction-related accidents. In order to fix them and create an advanced transaction culture, the escrow system was introduced. Unfortunately, however, it still has a long way to before being further revitalized and more widespread.
The revitalization of the escrow system is highly important to get rid of the transaction-cultural inferiority and improve the formal and inefficient existing safety measures. In order to find out why the system, despite its advantages, has failed to take root and suggest some solutions for its spread, this research analyzes previous researches while making a survey to get to know what transaction participants and real-estate brokers are thinking about the market. The result says, for the escrow system to be revitalized, the public should increase their understanding about the system while some government-level improvement and support of the system is necessary.
The result of the research is like the following:
First, institutionally, the agencies and organizations running an escrow system have yet to fill a bigger role. The number of those in charge of running an escrow system should rise, too.
Second, in terms of economy, there is the problem that realty buyers should bear additional costs. There is also another problem of how sellers should finance their reinvestment fund.
Third, with regard to the public’s recognition, there are some problems related to their habitual practices and the lack of publicity.
From the local system management status and recognition analysis, this research suggests the following measures to revitalize the escrow system.
First, institutionally, it is necessary for local governments to establish joint operation systems Also, some education and training should be given for a bigger number of related personnel with expertise and knowledge.
Second, in terms of economy, real estate buyers should be freed from additional costs with some measures prepared for sellers’ financing of reinvestment fund.
Third, with regard to the public’s recognition, the escrow system should be further publicized to improve the transaction culture.
During this research, it was discovered that the escrow system had a very low recognition, though it began to be implemented in South Korea, due to the various obstacles inhibiting its revitalization.
Furthermore, because there was no case of escrow-based transaction, the research had some difficulty in collecting related research data.