"When Going to the Playground, Wear an ID Tag"... Apartment Blocking Outsiders from Using Playground Says "No Intent to Discriminate"

'Children's Playground Usage Guidelines' Sign... Children Receiving Identification Tags
"No Consultation, Selfish Behavior" vs "Purpose of Preventing Safety Accidents"

Playground Usage Notice Posted at an Apartment in Gwangmyeong-si, Gyeonggi Province. Photo by Online Community Capture

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Seohyun] Following a recent controversy where children from other apartments entering the playground within a complex were reported to the police, an apartment complex has attracted attention by introducing a usage pass system that restricts playground use by outside children.

It has been revealed that an apartment complex in Gwangmyeong City, Gyeonggi Province, recently installed a sign indicating that identification tags will be issued to prevent children living outside the complex from using the playground.

The Gwangmyeong A Apartment complex, a large complex with about 1,200 households completed in 2009, has two playgrounds. However, a "Children's Playground Usage Guidelines" sign is installed at the playground. The sign specifies that children residing in the complex must wear an identification tag while playing in the playground, and that necklace-type tags will be produced and distributed by the management office to residents. The target group is children aged 5 and above up to elementary school students, and a fee of 5,000 KRW per tag must be paid for reissuance in case of loss or damage.

The issuance of identification tags is limited to children (elementary school age or younger) visiting apartment households such as relatives, friends of apartment children (elementary school age or younger), and apartment middle school students (external middle school students are not allowed). External individuals who wish to receive this tag must agree that the apartment will not be held responsible for any accidents during facility use and must promise to compensate for repair costs in case of facility damage.

Nearby residents reportedly expressed outrage, calling it a "selfish behavior" that harms children. One resident pointed out, "There was no process to gather residents' opinions," and questioned, "Did adults have to be so petty as to restrict even the children's play space?"

Meanwhile, the chairman of the A Apartment Residents' Representative Meeting stated, "This is completely different in nature from the Incheon apartment playground case." He emphasized, "There is no intention to discriminate against children. It is for the prevention of safety accidents."

He added, "We tried deploying safety personnel, but it was unmanageable, so we took this measure," and said, "Currently, there is no enforcement, but due to increasing complaints related to the playground, we plan to maintain the guidelines for the time being."

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