"Called a Servant? Families of Security Guards in Gangbuk-gu Appeal Against Abuse"

Security Guards Suffer Verbal Abuse and Assault Leading to Mental Illness
Contracted Through Outsourcing... Employment Insecurity Prevents Reporting, Perpetuating Vicious Cycle
Bereaved Families Push for 'Choi Hee-seok Act' to Fundamentally Block Power Abuse

In front of the apartment security post in Gangbuk-gu, Seoul, where security guard A, who made an extreme choice after a conflict with a resident that started over a "parking issue within the complex," worked, memorial messages from residents were posted on the 11th.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon] "Don't endure it, you must never stay silent"

The bereaved family of the late Choi Hee-seok, a security guard at an apartment in Ui-dong, Gangbuk-gu, Seoul, who took his own life after suffering from residents' abuse of power, urged active response against such abuse.

The family expressed frustration, saying, "We know that other security guards also suffer a lot from such abuse," adding, "Verbal abuse and unfair orders are part of daily life." They further urged, "If you experience verbal abuse or physical assault, do not hesitate and respond actively."

According to residents and the police, security guard Choi was found dead around 2 a.m. on the 10th near his home. It is reported that he left a note expressing his grievances.

Residents said that on the morning of the 21st of last month, around 11 a.m., Choi had an argument with a resident in his 50s over parking issues within the apartment complex. This resident assaulted Choi and dragged him to the management office, demanding that he quit his security job.

Choi eventually filed a complaint with the police the next day, accusing the resident of assault and other charges. However, before the complainant's investigation, Choi took his own life. The resident accused of assault denied the claim, stating that "it is not true that I assaulted him to the extent that his nasal bone was broken."

There are many security guards who suffer not only unfair treatment but also abuse such as assault, like Choi's case. However, most are contract workers employed through service companies, so they fear dismissal and cannot even report the incidents properly.

Some management offices openly tell security guards to endure the abuse, pushing them to the brink, which has been criticized.

The government has established regulations to prevent unfair orders, but in reality, these are not properly enforced on the ground, as seen in this case. The bereaved family announced plans to promote the "Choi Hee-seok Act," an anti-abuse law named after the deceased.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

◆ Security Guards Enduring Verbal Abuse, Slaps, and Physical Assault

In November 2018, a security guard at an apartment in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, died after being assaulted by a resident. An intoxicated resident violently attacked the guard over a conflict related to noise between floors, resulting in the guard's death.

In July of the same year, a security guard in his 70s working at an apartment in Hwaseong-si, Gyeonggi-do, was verbally abused and assaulted after he did not immediately raise the parking barrier for a resident and explained, "The barrier opens only for registered resident vehicles." The resident said, "If you're a security guard, you should bark properly, not anytime. Do you bark at the owner too, you dog?" and assaulted him, resulting in a two-week medical diagnosis.

In 2014, a security guard in his 50s who suffered verbal abuse from residents took his own life. In 2016, a resident at an apartment in Gwangju caused second-degree burns by pressing a lit cigarette to the face of a security guard who asked for quiet during a phone call.

In fact, security guards suffer not only from residents' abuse of power but also from verbal abuse and physical assault. The damage is significant.

In 2013, the National Human Rights Commission reported that 35.1% of apartment security guards had experienced verbal abuse from residents.

The report pointed out, "Mental and verbal violence acts as a serious stress factor and can even lead to mental illness," adding, "Continuous exposure can cause anxiety disorders and depression."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

◆ Contract Workers Employed Through Service Companies... Fear of Dismissal Prevents Reporting

However, security guards are in a situation where they cannot properly respond to residents' various abuses. Most apartment security guards are contract workers indirectly employed through service companies. Due to job insecurity, they cannot even think of reporting human rights violations.

According to the "Research on Support Measures for Apartment Workers" (Seoul Labor Rights Center/2015), 85.9% of apartments in Seoul are operated by entrusting management companies. The average contract period for such management outsourcing was found to be 1.3 years.

When service companies are replaced, the employment status of security guards showed 51.2% reemployed, 25.9% all reemployed, 17.1% contract termination, and 5.8% all contract terminations.

This is why security guards, whose livelihoods depend on their jobs, have no choice but to endure residents' verbal abuse and physical assault.

In April last year, the Korea Housing Management Institute surveyed 272 apartment workers, and 26.5% responded that they had received unfair orders from residents. Among them, 72.3% complied due to fear of retaliation such as personnel disadvantages.

Also, according to the "Apartment Security Guard Occupational Health Guidelines" (KOSHA/2016), most apartment security guards work to earn a living and prepare for old age, so they often endure verbal abuse or assault. Sometimes, management offices or service companies do not respond actively and tell them to endure it, causing mental stress.

Given this situation, the government amended the Apartment Housing Management Act in 2017 to prohibit residents or management entities from giving unfair orders or commands to security guards beyond their duties.

On the afternoon of the 13th, at the funeral hall of the late Choi Hee-seok set up at Sanggye Paik Hospital in Nowon-gu, Seoul, the bereaved family is explaining the "Choi Hee-seok Act," an anti-abuse law. Photo by Han Seung-gon hsg@asiae.co.kr

However, abuse such as disregard for dignity and verbal insults toward security guards still occurs frequently.

In light of this, there are calls for stronger legislation that can completely eliminate such abuse.

The bereaved family announced plans to promote the so-called "Choi Hee-seok Act" named after the deceased.

The family explained, "This law is for people in professions who are despised and ignored in the blind spots of our society."

They added, "With this law, customers will no longer speak informally in restaurants, and society will become one of mutual respect," emphasizing, "We will hold press conferences at the National Assembly and make every effort by any means to pass the Choi Hee-seok Act."

They continued, "No one in our society will suffer from abuse or take their own life anymore," and said, "There have been many anti-abuse laws, but we don't know if there was a proper law. This security guard case is not the first, is it?"

※ If you have difficult feelings such as depression or know someone around you who is struggling, you can receive 24-hour professional counseling at suicide prevention hotline ☎1393, mental health counseling ☎1577-0199, Hope Call ☎129, Lifeline ☎1588-9191, and Youth Hotline ☎1388.

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