"Please Clear the Security Guard's Unjust Accusation" Wave of Mourning for Security Guard Who Committed Suicide

Assaulted by Residents Over Parking Dispute... Left a Note and Took Extreme Action
Mourning Residents: "Unthinkable," "Perpetrators Must Be Severely Punished"
'Demanding Harsh Punishment for Security Guard Assault' Blue House Petition Surpasses 200,000 Signatures
Civic Groups: "The Death of Security Workers Is a Social Homicide"

A small memorial altar set up in front of the security booth where a security guard, who suffered from "resident gapjil" abuse and tragically took his own life on the 10th, worked at an apartment in Ui-dong, Gangbuk-gu, Seoul. Photo by Juhyung Lim, Intern Reporter skepped@asiae.co.kr

[Asia Economy reporters Seunggon Han and intern Juhyung Lim] "I miss you. Thank you. I will never forget you."

On the afternoon of the 12th, residents continued to visit the temporary memorial altar set up in front of the security office of an apartment in Ui-dong, Gangbuk-gu, Seoul. Choi Mo (59), a security guard working at this apartment, left a note expressing his grievance after being assaulted and harassed by a resident and took his own life on the 10th.

At the memorial altar set up in the security booth, a modest bouquet of chrysanthemums, Makgeolli, and incense candles were arranged. The glass window of the security booth was covered with post-it notes expressing condolences, such as "I can still see your always kind and smiling face. Rest in peace."

Not only residents but also anonymous neighbors from nearby areas left messages of mourning after hearing the news. One post-it read, "I am a mother of a baby living in Chang 3-dong. Although I never met him, my heart aches deeply after hearing the news," and added, "Everyone is heartbroken thinking about what a good person he must have been. I hope he rests peacefully in a better place."

Other condolence messages included, "No matter how much I think about it, I can't believe he can't be with our apartment family anymore. My heart hurts so much," and "He was always kind when I went to pick up packages. I had no idea such an incident happened. I feel sorry for not recognizing his suffering from residents' mistreatment. Thanks to him, we could live comfortably," expressing regret for not realizing the pain he endured due to residents' abuse.

A small memorial altar set up in front of the security booth where a security guard at an apartment in Ui-dong, Gangbuk-gu, Seoul, who tragically took his own life on the 10th after suffering from verbal abuse and assault due to parking disputes with residents, used to work. The altar is filled with Post-it notes mourning the security guard. Photo by Juhyung Lim, Intern Reporter skepped@asiae.co.kr

Condolences from residents continued at the memorial altar. A woman in her 30s, resident A, said, "It's a tragic event," and added, "I hope he has a peaceful life in his next life."

A man in his 40s, resident B, who was smoking near the security office pavilion, briefly said, "It really breaks my heart."

Another resident, C, explained, "That security guard was someone most residents liked. He truly cared for the apartment as if it were his own and lived with the residents like siblings," and added, "That's why the residents themselves set up the memorial altar."

A resident in his 70s, D, said, "I have lived here since the apartment was first built, and that security guard was the best," and added, "He was sincere, healthy, and a genuinely kind person whom both adults and children respected. I can't believe what happened to him."

Complaints about the perpetrator also surfaced. A resident in their 20s said, "I hope the person who assaulted the security guard is punished quickly," raising their voice, "It's truly shocking."

The security office interior where the security guard who made an extreme choice due to 'resident gapjil' abuse worked. Photo by Juhyung Lim, intern reporter skepped@asiae.co.kr

According to residents and police, Choi, who worked as a security guard at this apartment, was found dead near his home around 2 a.m. on the 10th. He reportedly left a note expressing his grievance.

Residents said that on the morning of the 21st of last month, around 11 a.m., Choi had a dispute with a resident in their 50s, E, over parking issues within the apartment complex. Afterwards, E assaulted Choi and dragged him to the management office, demanding he quit his security job.

Choi eventually filed a police complaint against E the next day on charges including assault. Some residents even held an emergency meeting on the 5th to discuss countermeasures regarding this matter.

However, Choi died before the complainant investigation. E, accused of assault, reportedly denied the claim that he assaulted Choi to the extent of breaking his nose.

Photo by Cheongwadae National Petition Board

Meanwhile, a Blue House (Cheong Wa Dae) national petition demanding strict punishment for the perpetrator has garnered over 200,000 signatures.

The petition titled "Please clear the grievance of our apartment security guard," posted on the Blue House petition board on the 11th, had 255,268 supporters as of 1:30 a.m. on the 13th.

The petitioner stated, "(The security guard) was truly a good person. He always treated residents well and sacrificed himself for the apartment residents as if they were his own family and as if it were his own job," adding, "Every morning, he greeted us first with 'Hello,' giving us a smile like a vitamin on a tough commute."

The petitioner urged strict punishment for the perpetrator. They claimed the incident began last month over parking issues and that resident E assaulted Choi several times during working hours and verbally abused him.

The petitioner said, "I heard (the perpetrator) worked in the entertainment industry and as a manager. If he is involved with organized crime, I ask for a thorough investigation," and added, "I wish I could ask for the death penalty, but I want a thorough investigation to clear the security guard's grievance. Even if not the death penalty, I want life imprisonment," demanding severe punishment.

They added, "Security guards are beloved grandfathers, husbands, and fathers in their families. Resident abuse must end," and pleaded, "Please clear the uncle's grievance. Let's work together so a strict punishment can be imposed."

On the morning of the 12th, activists from civic groups held an urgent press conference in front of an apartment in Ui-dong, Gangbuk-gu, Seoul, to commemorate the late security worker Choi OO, urging strict punishment for the perpetrator and the establishment of measures to prevent recurrence.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Meanwhile, civic groups demanded an apology from the perpetrator and measures to prevent recurrence.

On the 12th, the 'Memorial Gathering for the Late Security Worker Choi OO,' composed of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) Democratic General Federation, progressive parties, and civic groups, held a memorial press conference in front of the security office.

The memorial group demanded a thorough investigation into the death, an apology from the perpetrating resident, and improvements to the system related to apartment security workers.

They stated that this incident is "not an individual's despair but a social homicide."

The memorial group criticized, "It has been six years since a security worker at an apartment in Apgujeong-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, self-immolated due to resident abuse in November 2014," adding, "But now, in broad daylight in the heart of Seoul, a security guard died again after verbal abuse, mistreatment, and violence. This happened six years apart in Gangnam and Gangbuk."

They said, "Elderly security workers are forced to work without even minimal human dignity and have given up on being treated as human beings," and added, "We will use this incident as a starting point to protect the rights of vulnerable emotional laborers in this era to work safely."

Choi's funeral was originally scheduled for that day, but the bereaved family postponed it to the 14th, stating they want an apology from the perpetrator first.

The Gangbuk Police Station in Seoul, investigating the case, imposed a travel ban on the resident suspected of 'abuse and assault' on the 11th. The police plan to summon and investigate this resident within the week.

※ If you or someone around you is experiencing difficult feelings such as depression or other hard-to-talk-about concerns, you can receive 24-hour professional counseling at suicide prevention hotline ☎1393, mental health counseling ☎1577-0199, Hope Call ☎129, Lifeline ☎1588-9191, and Youth Hotline ☎1388.