Gangbuk-gu Takes Steps to Protect Apartment Security Guards' Human Rights

Amendment to 'Gangbuk-gu Apartment Management Ordinance' Establishes Security Guards' Human Rights Protection and Welfare Enhancement Efforts; Revised Ordinance Promulgated and Enforced on June 26... Distribution of Promotional Materials to Improve Residents' Awareness... Hotline Established for Smooth Cooperation with Seoul Gangbuk Police Station

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Gangbuk-gu (District Mayor Park Kyum-soo) is exploring various measures to protect the human rights of workers in multi-family housing.

This is a response to a tragic incident involving apartment security guards in the area that occurred last May.

First, posters aimed at raising residents' awareness were distributed to each neighborhood community center and multi-family housing complex.

The promotional materials include content such as ▲observance of security guards' break times ▲direct receipt of deliveries ▲provision of proper break rooms ▲avoidance of unreasonable additional work demands ▲support for stable employment ▲opportunities for communication with security guards ▲efforts to improve security guards' treatment and respect for human rights.

The district has established a hotline with the Seoul Gangbuk Police Station (Chief Jin Jong-geun) to more effectively respond to complaints about power abuse in multi-family housing. This is to promptly address urgent complaints and to prevent unexpected situations through information sharing on complaint management during normal times.

In this regard, the Seoul Gangbuk Police Station operates a special reporting period for power abuse incidents in multi-family housing and similar settings. Cases such as assault or verbal abuse against employed workers, threats involving dismissal or disciplinary actions, and coercion to perform tasks beyond contractual duties can be reported.

The reporting targets include not only complaints related to multi-family housing but also issues occurring in large buildings.

Earlier, immediately after the apartment security guard incident, the district established a comprehensive plan including measures to promote the human rights of multi-family housing workers and submitted an agenda to the Seoul Metropolitan Council of District Mayors to propose amendments to higher laws such as the Labor Standards Act and the Multi-family Housing Management Act.

Additionally, the “Gangbuk-gu Multi-family Housing Management Ordinance” was amended to stipulate efforts to guarantee the human rights and welfare of security guards. The revised ordinance is scheduled to be promulgated and enforced on June 26.

Park Kyum-soo, Mayor of Gangbuk-gu, stated, “If all residents remember and respect that workers such as security guards and cleaners are also members of the community, we can create a happy community for everyone,” and added, “The district will do its best to create an environment where multi-family housing workers can work with peace of mind.”

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