By May, Apartment Management Regulations Must Include 'Prohibition of Security Guard Harassment'

On the morning of May 11 last year, residents gathered at a memorial altar set up in the security booth where the late apartment security guard had worked, to pay tribute to the guard who had taken their own life the previous day at an apartment in Ui-dong, Gangbuk-gu, Seoul. (Photo by Yonhap News)

[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Jiwon] By May, apartment complex residents' representative meetings must amend management regulations to include prohibitions on harassment of workers such as security guards and protective measures. Additionally, regardless of the amount, anyone who has been sentenced to a fine for violating related laws within the past two years cannot become a representative of an apartment building.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced on the 4th that the amendment to the Enforcement Decree of the Apartment Housing Management Act containing these provisions will be promulgated and enforced on the 5th.

First, the amendment requires that the standard management regulations for apartment complexes set by city and provincial governors, as well as the management regulations established by individual apartment complexes, reflect the "prohibition of harassment of workers within apartment complexes and measures to be taken if such harassment occurs."

Accordingly, each city and provincial governor must establish standard management regulations by April 5th that include prohibitions on harassment of apartment complex workers, reporting methods, victim protection measures, and prohibitions on disadvantages such as dismissal due to reporting. The residents' representative meetings of individual apartment complexes, such as apartments, must amend their management regulations based on the standards set by the city and provincial governors by May 6th.

According to the amendment, until now, when installing mobile communication relay equipment on the rooftop of an apartment complex, approval from the mayor, county governor, or district office head was required after obtaining consent from two-thirds of the residents of the building. Going forward, consent from the residents' representative meeting of the building will suffice, and the installation can be reported to the mayor, county governor, or district office head.

Disqualifications for representatives of apartment buildings will also be strengthened. Previously, anyone who had been sentenced to a fine of 1 million won or more for violating related laws such as the Apartment Housing Management Act or the Housing Act within the past two years could not become a building representative. From now on, regardless of the amount, anyone sentenced to a fine for violating related laws within the past two years cannot become a building representative.

Furthermore, when members of the residents' representative meeting elect officers such as the chairperson or auditor by indirect election, if the number of votes is tied, the decision can be made by drawing lots to simplify the procedure. The election of officers proceeds in the order of ▲direct election by residents ▲indirect election among members if there are no candidates or no winner ▲drawing lots if candidates receive the same number of votes in the indirect election.

Until now, only daycare centers required the consent of the majority of prospective residents before signing a lease contract prior to moving into a newly built apartment complex. Going forward, Dahamkke Care Centers and Community Childcare Sharing Centers will also be able to sign lease contracts after undergoing the procedure.

Kim Kyunghun, Director of the Housing Construction Supply Division at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, said, "With this amendment, a culture of coexistence between apartment complex workers such as security guards and residents will be established, and the convenience of living in apartment complexes is expected to improve."

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