[Interview] Jung Won-oh, Seongdong District Mayor: "Changing the Title from 'Security Guard' to 'Manager' Should Be an Opportunity to Respect the Human Rights of Essential Workers"

Campaign to Change the Title from 'Security Guard' to 'Manager' to Respect Essential Workers' Human Rights... 90 Complexes Sign Agreement to Prohibit Abuse, Revision of Cost-Sharing Rate for 'Manager' Workplace Improvement Project from 50% to 70%

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] “Changing the way we address them is the beginning of respecting the human rights of essential workers.”

Jung Won-oh, Mayor of Seongdong District, said in an interview with this publication, “We will protect the human rights of essential workers, the security guards of apartment complexes, and create an environment where they can work with dignity.”

Last month, Seongdong District launched a campaign to replace the term ‘security guard’ with ‘manager’ across all 146 apartment complexes. As the first in the nation to enact the ‘Ordinance on the Protection and Support of Essential Workers,’ Mayor Jung, who has been working to raise awareness that these workers are essential members maintaining our society, has once again taken the lead in the campaign to improve their titles.

In fact, a survey conducted by the district in September last year targeting 155 apartment security workers showed that 41.2% supported changing the title. Meanwhile, 29.7% responded that the existing term ‘security guard’ carried many negative connotations. Among new title suggestions such as ‘security officer,’ ‘life manager,’ and ‘maintenance worker,’ 55.4% of security workers chose ‘manager’ according to opinions from related organizations including the Korea Housing Management Association. The title ‘manager’ highlights their role in managing facilities, parking, and waste separation within apartment complexes, conveying respect and gratitude. The aim is to foster a culture of mutual respect between residents and managers.

In addition to changing titles, the district is also promoting campaigns for ‘polite language use,’ ‘respecting break times,’ and ‘not demanding unfair tasks’ to protect the human rights of managers. There are a total of 938 managers working in Seongdong District. Mayor Jung explained, “Even before launching full-scale support policies for essential workers, we signed agreements with 90 apartment complexes to prohibit unfair work orders and have been implementing projects to improve the treatment of managers.”

In 2019 and 2020, the district provided approximately 78 million KRW to 11 apartment complexes for renovating and improving managers’ work facilities. The funds were used by each complex to install air conditioners in security offices, unmanned parcel lockers, rest areas, and improve waste collection facilities.

This year, to expand support for essential workers, the district revised related ordinances. Previously, when improving managers’ work facilities as part of apartment support projects, the district’s share of the total project cost was 50%. However, by newly adding the item ‘Improvement of Security Guards and Cleaning Workers’ Work Facilities,’ the district increased its share to 70% to encourage more apartment complexes to participate.

As a result, 33 apartment complexes applied for facility improvements for managers this year. After committee review and determination of support amounts, funding is scheduled to begin in April. The district plans to fully fund projects related to essential workers as a priority.

The district is currently proceeding with procedures to enact a human rights ordinance for apartment managers by June. Additionally, in 12 apartment complexes, the ‘Resident Recycling Volunteer Group’ has been organized to take over recycling duties previously handled by managers, operating once or twice a month. The volunteer group’s activity times allow managers to rest, reducing their workload and greatly contributing to establishing a culture of coexistence. This has also provided residents with an opportunity to understand the difficulties faced by managers. Mayor Jung Won-oh stated, “I will strive to ensure that changing titles becomes a turning point toward respecting human rights, leading to a shift in social perception and improvement in the treatment of managers.”

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