Standing Her Ground. Won maintains she never signed a lease and calls the allegations a politically motivated smear during her congressional campaign.
13D AGOLOCALNYC COUNCIL MEMBER JULIE WONETHICAL ISSUESNY-07 DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY
Julie Won Denies Owing $25K in Back Rent Dispute
What's the gist?
NYC Councilwoman Julie Won disputes the claim she owes $25,000 in back rent for a luxury Queens apartment, and says the allegations are politically motivated because she is running for Congress in NY-7.
Context
Won and her family lived in political consultant Justin Chae's Long Island City condo since November 2024. Chae claims they agreed to free rent initially, then $5,000 monthly starting January 2026, in exchange for Won's husband, Eugene Noh, working or Chae's firm. Won and Noh deny the claim and say Chae forged Won's name on the lease agreement. Noh has since started his own political consulting firm with a similar name to Chae's firm and gotten over $200.000 in business.
Positive takes
Tenant Rights Advocate. Her claims of landlord intimidation resonate with renters facing similar disputes across the city's expensive housing market.
Fighting Back. Won's threat to countersue shows she's willing to defend herself against what she sees as extortion attempts.
Negative takes
Unpaid Obligations. Moving out just days after receiving eviction papers suggests Won may have been avoiding her rental responsibilities all along.
Pattern of Avoidance. The landlord's claim that Won and her husband started 'ghosting' him in April raises questions about her communication and accountability.
Political Hypocrisy. Critics argue a progressive councilwoman shouldn't be living rent-free in luxury housing while advocating for affordable housing policies.
— by VoiceWhat's Voice? Read this.
News sources
- 01Exclusive | NYC Councilwoman and congressional candidate Julie Won ‘squatted’ in luxury Queens condo: landlordRich Calder · New York Post · June 8, 2026
- 02
Rich Calder · AOL.com · June 8, 2026
Who are you leaning toward in this race?Pick a candidate to see where New Yorkers stand