"Here is 3 Years' Salary, So Leave" Security Guard Assaulted by Teenagers... Can't Stop Resident Power Abuse?

1st Anniversary of Late Choi Hee-seok's Suicide Due to Resident Abuse... Security Guards Still Facing 'Gapjil'
Teenagers Drinking and Smoking in Apartment, Assaulting Security Guards
Nowon Apartment Security Guards Also Facing 'Text Message Dismissal'

A security guard sorting recyclables at an apartment complex in Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] "I'm the owner here, so what are you going to do?", "Don't work here, just leave."

Residents who engage in so-called 'gapjil' (abuse of power) against apartment security guards continue to be a social problem. Even though it has been a year since security guard the late Choi Hee-seok took his own life due to assault and verbal abuse by residents last year, the abuse toward security guards remains unchanged. Despite laws and systems introduced to prevent a 'second Choi Hee-seok incident,' the poor treatment of security guards has not improved.

Some argue that improving the employment structure of security guards should be prioritized to stop such abuse. Security guards are typical indirect employment workers, generally signing short-term contracts of less than one year. Ultimately, they have no choice but to endure abuse to maintain their employment. Experts suggest that poor treatment should be improved by preventing short-term contracts for security guards.

Recently, minor A (18) sparked public outrage after assaulting a security guard for prohibiting him from drinking alcohol in a shared apartment space.

On the evening of the 22nd, around 10 p.m., in a shared rest area of an apartment in Seo-gu, Incheon, A was drinking and smoking when the security guard intervened. A is accused of pushing the guard and throwing a pen at him. He also kicked the management office door and damaged the insect screen, causing a disturbance.

During the incident, A shouted at the security guards, "Don't work here, get the hell out. I'll pay you for three years. Whether it's five or ten years, I'll pay you, so get the hell out." When a security guard said, "I'm not asking for money," A responded with abusive language, saying, "Don't act like a f***ing idiot." The security guards reportedly felt so anxious that they even considered quitting their jobs.

The police arrested A on the spot, but A's parents reportedly told the responding officers that "their son usually has anger management issues."

The photo is unrelated to specific expressions in the article.

Meanwhile, on the 14th, a security guard was assaulted by a resident for placing a parking violation sticker. A resident of an apartment in Yangsan, Gyeongnam, protested the parking violation sticker on his vehicle and punched the security guard in the face.

At the time, the resident went to the security office and verbally abused the guards, saying things like, "Why don't you put stickers on other cars?", "Why aren't you patrolling during patrol time?", and "Bring the guy who told you to put the stickers on." However, during police investigation, the resident claimed, "I went to the security office to complain, but I never cursed or hit the security guard," and said, "I think my hand accidentally touched the guard's mask while trying to remove the sticker."

The continuation of residents' gapjil is related to the poor employment conditions of security guards. According to estimates by the Seoul Labor Rights Center, over 90% of security guards nationwide are indirectly employed through consignment management such as dispatch, outsourcing, or subcontracting. Most sign contracts for less than one year, sometimes as short as three months, so they have no choice but to remain silent about abuse to maintain their contracts.

As a result, unfair dismissals are also common. Previously, 16 security guards working at Junggye Green Apartment in Nowon-gu, Seoul, caused controversy after being notified of their dismissal via text message. They were about to renew their contracts on the 1st, but the security service company changed recently, and they were informed of their dismissal. The guards submitted a petition to Nowon District Office reporting collective dismissal and gapjil issues.

Given this situation, calls for measures to protect security guards are growing. Kim (29), a resident of an apartment in Mapo-gu, Seoul, said, "Security guards are also someone's precious family members, so it's heartbreaking to see this kind of gapjil happening." He added, "Last year, Choi Hee-seok was driven to an extreme choice due to assault by residents. After that incident, I thought the abuse toward security guards would decrease, but it remains, which is frustrating. Ultimately, effective legislation to protect security guards is necessary."

Earlier, the government implemented an amendment to the 'Apartment Housing Management Act Enforcement Decree' in January, requiring apartment management regulations to include prohibitions against harassment of workers such as security guards. The amendment mandates that apartment management regulations include prohibitions on harassment of workers like security guards, protective measures for victims, and bans on dismissal or disadvantages due to reporting. However, the criteria for determining harassment were vague, leading to criticism of its effectiveness.

Experts suggest that to stop gapjil against security guards, the labor structure must be changed first. Attorney Kwon Doo-seop said in an interview with YTN's 'Open Radio,' "More than 90% of all security workers are in so-called indirect employment," pointing out, "That is, employment is maintained only by renewing contracts once a year." He emphasized, "Local governments should prohibit short-term contracts like three months, and those with authority to supervise resident representatives should strengthen management to improve the employment structure."

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