No More Pain for the Late Security Guard Choi Hee-seok... Police Operate Special Reporting Period for 'Gapjil' Acts in Apartments and Large Buildings

Reception from the 25th Regardless of Crime Type, Investigation by the Violent Crimes Unit
'Alias Statements' Used to Protect Victims

Location Information of All 6,065 Itaewon Club Visitors Confirmed
Gangnam Entertainment Workers Who Gave 'False Statements' to Be Summoned Soon

LG Electronics Recruitment Corruption Allegations, "Data Under Analysis"

In front of the apartment security post in Gangbuk-gu, Seoul, where security guard A, who made an extreme choice after a conflict with a resident that started over a "parking issue within the complex," worked, memorial messages from residents were posted on the 11th.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-joo] Regarding the death of 60-year-old security guard Choi Hee-seok, who took an extreme step after enduring residents' 'gapjil' at an apartment in Gangbuk-gu, Seoul, the police will operate a special reporting period for gapjil acts in apartments and large buildings starting from the 25th.

Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency Commissioner Lee Yong-pyo stated at a press briefing that morning, "We believe gapjil acts are occurring in other apartments and large buildings as well," announcing the plan.

The police plan to accept related cases regardless of the type of crime during the special reporting period, with the violent crimes unit taking charge of investigations. To protect victims and encourage reporting, they will actively use 'pseudonymous statements,' where testimonies are taken under aliases, and will also conduct on-site investigations upon victims' requests.

Earlier, the Gangbuk Police Station in Seoul arrested A (49) on charges including injury, threats, and retaliatory assault under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes. A is accused of assaulting Choi after a dispute over parking at the apartment where he lived on the 21st of last month. Choi had filed a police complaint against A on charges of injury, assault, and threats at the end of last month but took an extreme step on the 10th of this month after leaving a voice recording.

Additionally, amid the sporadic spread of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) 'n-th infection' originating from Itaewon clubs, the police provided location information of 6,065 club visitors to the quarantine authorities. They investigated 81 cases related to quarantine rule violators, sending 36 individuals to prosecution with indictments. In particular, a female confirmed case who worked at an entertainment establishment in Gangnam-gu was found to have given false statements during the epidemiological investigation and is scheduled for summons this week.

The investigation into LG Electronics' recruitment corruption allegations is also ongoing. On the 15th of this month, the police conducted a surprise search and seizure of the HR team of LG Electronics' Korea Sales Headquarters and their cloud server, securing related materials and booking one employee at the time. A police official explained, "We are analyzing the secured materials and plan to summon related persons based on this," adding, "It appears to be an individual recruitment corruption case."

Meanwhile, regarding one staff member of the Tourist Police Unit who tested positive for COVID-19, 37 people who had contact with the employee tested negative in specimen tests. They will return after a two-week self-quarantine. The condition of the confirmed employee is reported to be stable.