"People Are Scared" The Ongoing 'Resident Power Trips' That Are Wearing Down Security Guards

85 Cases of 'Resident Power Abuse Reports' Over 4 Months from May... Police Detain 64 People
Family of the Late Choi Hee-seok: "There Must Be No Second or Third Choi Hee-seok"

Residents are gathered at the incense altar set up in the security booth where the late apartment security guard used to work, to mourn the guard who took an extreme step at an apartment in Ui-dong, Gangbuk-gu, Seoul. The photo shows residents gathered in front of the incense altar, taken on May 11. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporters Seunggon Han and Yeongeun Kim] # "Do you know about that security guard incident reported in the media?" Last June, at an apartment complex in Guro-gu, Seoul, a visitor used the late Choi Hee-seok’s case as a means of threat against a security guard, causing a commotion for about 50 minutes. In the same month, at an apartment in Gangnam-gu, a resident committed abuse by splashing coffee on a security guard after a verbal altercation.

# "Hey Jong, don’t act like the owner." Last July, a security guard working at an apartment in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, was verbally abused by a resident for removing a calendar from the gym within the complex. The resident shouted and spoke disrespectfully, insulting the security guard. Additionally, last August in Eunpyeong-gu, Seoul, a resident who was filing a complaint about ceiling leaks poured hot water on the security guard’s neck.

# According to Chuncheon Police Station on the 11th, a resident assaulted a security guard by pushing him in the chest to knock him down and hitting his shoulder because the guard did not greet him. Also, during the typhoon "Maysak" last month, a security guard working at an apartment in Nam-gu, Pohang-si, Gyeongbuk, was criticized by a resident at 3 a.m. for not patrolling. At that time, the roof had fallen due to the typhoon, and there was heavy rain and wind. The security guard had been instructed, "Safety comes first, so do not go out under any circumstances."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Last May, the late Choi Hee-seok, a security guard at an apartment in Gangbuk-gu, Seoul, took his own life due to persistent harassment including assault and verbal abuse by residents. However, even after this incident, similar types of harassment against security guards have continued to occur across Seoul and nationwide during the special reporting period. The family of Choi Hee-seok appealed for an end to such abuse, stating that the mistreatment of security guards still persists.

The police have operated a special reporting period for harassment against security guards in apartments and large buildings to prevent recurrence of such incidents, starting two weeks after Choi’s death.

However, according to data submitted by the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency to Justice Party lawmaker Eunju Lee of the National Assembly’s Public Administration and Security Committee on the 8th, 85 reports were received over about four months from May 25 to the 6th of this month. The police have booked 64 individuals involved in 62 of these cases.

Lawmaker Lee stated, "It is necessary for the government and local authorities to improve systems so that the legitimate wages and stable employment of workers in multi-family housing, as well as the poor working conditions such as unfair work restrictions, can be improved and workers’ rights guaranteed." She added, "To eliminate abuse, we need to raise awareness of the value of labor and create a society that respects workers."

To reduce such harassment of security guards, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced on the 7th a draft amendment to the Enforcement Decree of the Apartment Housing Management Act, which includes provisions prohibiting unfair harassment of security guards in apartments and other multi-family housing. According to the amendment, residents and others cannot unfairly interfere with the duties of security guards and cannot order them to perform tasks outside those prescribed by law.

Additionally, Gyeonggi Province announced that it plans to finalize a draft amendment to the Standard Rules for Multi-family Housing Management Regulations through the Gyeonggi Province Multi-family Housing Management Regulations Review Committee this month. The amendment includes provisions that if harassment of security guards or others within multi-family housing is discovered, the management entity must strive to resolve conflicts and, upon request by the affected worker, take appropriate measures such as changing the workplace or granting paid leave.

While abuse against security guards continues in various places, citizens voiced criticism through comments on related news articles. Netizens responded with remarks such as, "It’s embarrassing that such basic matters have to be included in regulations before being enforced," "A bitter reality where people only start paying attention after someone passes away," and "Posting the amended law like a large notice on each apartment entrance would reduce abuse."

The family of the late Choi Hee-seok urged restraint in abusing security guards. The family said, "It seems that abuse problems still have not been eradicated these days," and "We only hope that no second or third Choi Hee-seok will emerge, relying solely on the state and government to amend the law."

They also expressed, "It would be good if people thought, ‘I exist because you are here,’ instead of ‘I am the boss and you are the subordinate,’ but unfortunately, that is often not the case." They added, "Even at this moment, there must be people suffering like Hee-seok. We sincerely hope that such incidents will no longer occur."

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