Police Ban Resident Who Assaulted Apartment Security Guard from Leaving Country... Summons Expected Soon

A security guard at an apartment in Ui-dong, Gangbuk-gu, Seoul, who took his own life claiming to be 'unfairly treated,' is being mourned by the apartment residents. On the 11th, a memorial altar was set up by the residents to honor the security guard. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Song Seung-yoon] The police have imposed a travel ban on a resident identified as the perpetrator in connection with the case where a security guard at an apartment in Gangbuk-gu, Seoul, could no longer endure the resident's abuse and took his own life.

According to the police on the 12th, the Gangbuk Police Station in Seoul plans to summon the resident involved in the case this week for investigation. The case concerns a man in his 50s, Mr. A, who worked as a security guard at an apartment in Gangbuk-gu and made an extreme choice after enduring verbal abuse and physical assault from a resident. The police also imposed a travel ban on the resident the day before.

According to residents of the apartment, Mr. A, who worked as a security guard there, had a dispute with a resident in his 50s over parking on the 21st of last month. After being verbally abused and physically assaulted by this resident, he took his own life on the 10th of this month. Mr. A was found dead in his home around 2 a.m. that day.

Before his death, at the end of last month, Mr. A filed a police complaint against the resident for assault, battery, and threats. Mr. A claimed that during the process of moving a double-parked vehicle in the apartment’s ground parking lot, he got into an argument with the vehicle’s owner, the resident, and was assaulted.

The police believe Mr. A took his own life, based on a note he left expressing feelings of injustice. The police have initially booked the resident on charges of assault.

The resident identified as the perpetrator reportedly stated that "there was no assault, and the residents are making false and exaggerated claims."

A security guard at an apartment in Ui-dong, Gangbuk-gu, Seoul, who took his own life claiming he was 'unfairly treated,' is being mourned by the apartment residents who set up a memorial altar on the 11th. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

In connection with this case, residents of the apartment have been visiting to pay tribute to Mr. A. Since the day before, a memorial altar has been set up at the security post where Mr. A worked during his lifetime. The altar includes a bouquet of chrysanthemums, Makgeolli, and scented candles. Residents visit the altar to leave chrysanthemums and fruit as a sign of their condolences.

Civil society organizations have also called for punishment of the perpetrator and measures to prevent recurrence. On this day, the "Memorial Gathering for the Late Security Worker Choi Hee-sik," composed of civil society groups including the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) Democratic General Federation and progressive political parties, held a memorial press conference at an apartment in Ui-dong, Gangbuk-gu, Seoul, and defined the incident as a "social murder."

The memorial gathering strongly criticized, saying, "It has been six years since a security worker at an apartment in Apgujeong-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, self-immolated and took his life due to resident abuse in November 2014. A security guard has died again in the heart of Seoul after verbal abuse, power harassment, and violence. This happened with a six-year gap between Gangnam and Gangbuk."

Meanwhile, on the Blue House National Petition page, a petition titled "Please clear the injustice of our apartment security uncle" had received about 138,000 signatures as of 2 p.m. on the same day.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.