Fired via Text Message and Assaulted for Parking Violation Sticker... Are Security Guards the Scapegoats?

Ongoing Abuse Issues Toward Security Guards
Assault and Verbal Abuse Over 'Not Removing Parking Sticker'
"This is a Notice ^^" Also Fired via Text Message
Experts Say "Fundamental Improvement of Labor Structure Needed"

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Juhee] An incident occurred in an apartment in Gyeongnam where a security guard was assaulted by a resident for putting a parking violation sticker on a vehicle. Recently, 16 security guards working at an apartment in Nowon-gu, Seoul, were collectively dismissed and were notified of this via 'text message.' Although the poor working conditions of security guards have long been a social issue, unfair treatment toward them still remains unaddressed.

Experts emphasized that improving the labor structure is necessary to prevent abuse against security guards.

On the 14th, the Yangsan Police Station in Gyeongnam launched an investigation after receiving a report from a security guard who claimed to have been assaulted by a resident at an apartment in Yangsan. Resident A, in his 60s, is suspected of assaulting the security guard by punching him in the face after protesting the parking violation sticker attached to his vehicle on the 4th.

At the time, A visited the security office and verbally abused the guard, saying things like "Why don't you put parking violation stickers on other cars?", "Why aren't you patrolling during patrol time?", and "Bring the XX who told you to put the stickers on," and reportedly punched the guard in the face.

The assaulted security guard testified that "At first, he said 'Sorry for hitting you, but just remove the sticker,' so I asked for an apology, but (A) changed his words, saying 'When did I hit you?'"

Regarding this, A claimed that he did visit the security office to protest but never cursed at or hit the security guard, and that his hand might have brushed against the guard's mask while asking to remove the sticker.

It was confirmed that A even filed a complaint requesting an investigation into the security guard for property damage, claiming the sticker on his car would not come off. The police plan to investigate A on assault charges.

Meanwhile, recently, 16 security guards at an apartment in Nowon-gu were collectively dismissed two days before the renewal of their contract with a new security service company. The notification was sent via text message. The message read, "Regrettably, we inform you that we cannot continue working together~^^" and "We hope to meet again at another site through a different connection."

They sent official letters to the security service company and the residents' representative council asking for the reasons for the dismissal, but it is reported that they have yet to receive a proper explanation.

Apartment security guard. Photo by Yonhap News

The security guards strongly protested. On the 14th, they held a press conference in front of the Nowon District Office, stating, "On the 29th of last month, 16 security workers were notified of dismissal via text message two days before the contract renewal date," and demanded, "Please allow us to return to work." They also said, "We were forced to work during break times, were given only one broom per year, and had to buy other supplies ourselves, experiencing abuse."

More than 700 residents of this apartment participated in a petition to cancel the dismissal of the security guards, and a candlelight vigil condemning the collective dismissal is scheduled for that evening.

Abusive behavior and unfair dismissal issues toward security guards are recurring problems. This is because when the residents' representative council signs a contract with a new security service company, there is no obligation to inherit the employment of security guards from the previous company. The short-term labor contract structure is also cited as a primary reason why security guards cannot properly raise objections despite being subjected to abuse.

In fact, most security guards have short-term contracts of 2 to 3 months, placing them in an unstable employment environment. According to the '2019 National Apartment Security Workers Survey Report,' among 3,388 surveyed security guards, 94.1% had contracts of one year or less, and 21.7% had 3-month contracts.

Experts suggest that fundamental changes in the labor structure are necessary to prevent abuse against security guards. Attorney Kwon Dooseop emphasized in an interview with YTN's 'Open Radio,' "More than 90% of all security workers are in so-called indirect employment. Even at best, contracts must be renewed once a year to maintain employment. There is always a risk of being fired," and added, "Local governments, which have supervisory authority over residents' representatives, need to strengthen management and improve the employment structure."

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