'Gapjil' and Assault Against Apartment Security Guards... Will It Finally Disappear?

Security Guards Suffering from Verbal Abuse and Assault... Extreme Choices Too
Unfair Work Orders Like Valet Parking, Moving, and Parcel Delivery Also Problematic
Government to Ensure Security Workers Have More Than Four Days Off Monthly
Experts Say "Punishments for Abusive Employers Need to Be Harsher"

Security guards continue to face abusive behavior such as verbal abuse and assault.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Soyoung] Incidents of assault and abuse against apartment security guards continue to occur, becoming a serious social issue. There is a growing call to improve their working conditions and raise awareness of human rights.

On the 29th, a 5-year prison sentence was confirmed for resident Sim Mo, who was arrested and indicted on charges of assaulting the late apartment security guard Choi Heeseok. On April 21 of last year, Sim pushed Choi’s chest and slapped his cheek at an apartment in Gangbuk-gu, Seoul, where Sim resided. The incident occurred after Choi moved Sim’s car, which was triple-parked, to allow vehicle access. Sim reacted by saying, "Why are you doing things you’re not supposed to do just because you’re a security guard?"

However, this cruelty did not end there. After Choi reported the assault to the police, Sim held Choi’s head in the security guard restroom and repeatedly slammed it against the wall out of resentment. There were also indications that Sim threatened Choi to resign. Even after being summoned by the police, Sim continued to assault Choi and filed a false complaint with the police, claiming "Choi damaged my reputation with lies."

The ongoing harassment ended in tragedy. In May of last year, Choi left a voice message saying, "Please make sure no one else dies from such unfair treatment," before taking his own life. On the 29th, the Supreme Court confirmed Sim’s 5-year prison sentence for assault and verbal abuse.

Additionally, issues arise from unfairly assigning tasks outside of security duties to guards, such as valet parking, carrying moving boxes, delivering packages, and managing shops within the apartment complex. In response, the government has moved to amend related laws. Last month, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced a legislative notice to revise the Enforcement Decree and Enforcement Rules of the "Apartment Housing Management Act," defining the scope of duties security guards can perform beyond security work. According to the amendment, these include environmental management such as cleaning, ▲sorting and monitoring recyclable waste, ▲parking management aimed at preventing risks and theft, and ▲storing delivery packages.

Accordingly, starting October 21, apartment residents who make security guards perform chores like valet parking or package delivery will face fines up to 10 million KRW. Some criticize these abusive behaviors as stemming from a misguided sense of entitlement. A 30-year-old office worker, Yoo Mo, said, "People who mistreat security guards act as if they are asserting legitimate rights," adding, "The perception of security guards themselves seems fundamentally flawed."

Controversy arose after security guards at an apartment in Daejeon were charged last month for electricity costs under the name of air conditioning fees. Photo by Asia Economy DB

Meanwhile, poor working conditions remain a problem. Many security guards still work in cramped spaces without air conditioning even during heatwaves, leading to ongoing conflicts.

Recently, at an apartment in Daejeon, security guards who could no longer endure the heat pooled their own money to install air conditioners, but the apartment management demanded they pay the electricity bills, sparking controversy. The management office claimed that since the guards installed the air conditioners at their own expense two years ago and agreed to cover the electricity costs, this was the first time they billed for the fees. However, forcing the guards to bear this cost caused a major uproar.

The government has taken steps to address the issue. On the 17th, the Ministry of Employment and Labor announced the "Guidelines for Reforming Working Methods of Apartment Security Guards," ensuring that apartment security workers receive at least four days off per month on average and that adequate rest facilities, including cooling and heating systems, are provided. The guidelines also presented three types of working methods with field examples: separation of security guards and managers, alternating day shifts with off days, and other alternating day systems.

Experts have called for stronger punishment of perpetrators who abuse their power. Professor Choi Jinbong of the Department of Journalism and Broadcasting at Sungkonghoe University suggested in an interview with Yonhap News TV, "There is a need to improve labor structures to protect security guards, and social opinion alone should not be the end of it; penalties for such abusive behavior should be increased."

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