<Anchor> This is a
friendly economic time. Today (the 8th), I will be with reporter Kim Hye-min. I'm going to talk a little bit about real estate brokerage commissions today, but lately there are so many companies that use very low commissions. And you say there's some friction on the inside?
<Reporter>
Brokers are appearing that offer brokerage fees at half price or even half price. Competition to cut brokerage fees is getting hotter, which is a positive change for customers.
However, existing brokers are strongly opposed to this, and friction is being created.
On the 4th, there was even an incident where brokers belonging to the Association of Certified Realtors of Korea flocked to an office of Preferred Bread, which offered half-price compensation.
They protested to stop paying half price. They also demanded that the billboards advertising the fees be removed.
I personally met the people at the branch at the time, and they complained that they felt intimidated and fearful because the branch president was only two women.
The association brokers "will report the low commission as an act of disorder." I even said this, but in fact, after our investigation, it is a matter that cannot be reported to the Fair Trade Commission.
The association also said that it recognized this part and did not report it. The preferential bread side plans to sue the brokers of the association on charges of trespassing on special housing and special intimidation.
<Anchor>
Then, I think we should listen to the position of the brokers of the association. Why did they do this?
<Reporter> If
one place offers half the price, they have no choice but to cut the price again. This is how I am appealing.
Currently, the brokerage market is saturated, and if there is even price competition here, there can be many victims. Also, the government recently cut some of the brokerage fees.
A new remuneration rate will be applied from October, but the association has argued that it cannot accept the government's plan to cut real estate brokerage remuneration.
It is saying that "the government is trying to cover up the failure of real estate policies at the expense of brokers", so starting today, we are fighting against the government.
Today at 11 am, there will be a ceremony in front of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport in Sejong City. In addition, it is said that the brokerage offices belonging to each region have agreed to temporarily close the business.
<Anchor> The
real estate brokerage market has recently changed a bit. At the same time, there seems to be some friction with the existing real estate agents, especially in the market change, saying that there are many companies that have applied IT technology.
<Reporter>
There is a new word called proptech. It's the first I've heard of it, and it's a combination of real estate and technology. We collect customer real estate sales information and turn it into big data.
We are helping you find the house you want using virtual reality and VR without having to look at the house by selling your own products.
In 2018, there were only 20 companies, but this year, the number has increased more than 20 times. Sales also jumped 42% in one year.
Doing business online like this will naturally reduce costs significantly. Half the brokerage fee is standard. There are also places where the seller does not accept it at all.
These days, when looking at a house, I first check whether there is a property I like on the Internet or an app, and then contact a broker.
As the process has become more convenient and the brokerage fee is cheaper, it is very welcome from the consumer's point of view.
<Anchor> As
I just said, this is a very welcome change from the consumer's point of view. But now, as we continued to talk about, the existing real estate agents are likely to protest again.
<Reporter> The
Brokers Association filed a complaint against a company in April of this year. The reason was that he was not a certified real estate agent, but used a name similar to that of a real estate agent and displayed illegal advertisements.
Before that, the association had filed a complaint with the prosecution twice. Even then, all of them were dismissed with a disposition of non-prosecution.
Although such disputes will continue within the industry in the future, it seems difficult to change the direction of this recent change as consumers complain that the real estate brokerage fee is excessive compared to the quality of service.
[Kwon Dae-jung/Professor of Real Estate Department, Myongji University: As technology is gradually moving toward advanced, advanced, and functionalized technology, and various types of proptech are developing, it is time (existing real estate brokers) to improve service quality and gain competitiveness. Isn't it (I guess.)] The
government even announced a policy to foster proptech as a promising new industry. How to reconcile conflicts with the existing brokerage industry seems to be a key task in the future.