The Apartment That Prevented Massive Security Guard Layoffs... Discussing Reductions Again After One Year

3830 Households 'SK Bukhansan City'... Survey on Reducing 87 Security Guards
Previous Two Attempts to Cut Staff Failed Due to Resident Opposition but Retried
20 Civic Groups Issue Statement Expressing Concern Over Mass Layoff Attempt

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyemin] Discussions on reducing security guards are taking place again after one year at SK Bukhan Mountain City in Gangbuk-gu, Seoul, where mass layoffs of security guards were previously blocked due to opposition from apartment residents.

According to the Justice Party Seoul Branch on the 15th, SK Bukhan Mountain City in Gangbuk-gu is currently conducting a survey among residents regarding the reorganization of the security system. Residents are asked to choose between 'Plan 1,' which maintains the current 87 security guards, and 'Plan 2,' which reduces the total personnel to 40-50, cutting about 30 guards. The apartment complex has a total of 3,830 households, with 87 security guards currently employed.

Looking at the survey details, there are claims that the contents of Plans 1 and 2 are unfair. Plan 1, which maintains the status quo, lists disadvantages such as 'inability to conduct systematic patrols due to older workers,' 'weakened crime prevention and response capabilities,' and 'neglect of security duties due to tasks like separate waste collection and snow removal.' On the other hand, Plan 2, which proposes reductions, emphasizes efficient management by stating 'replacement of security personnel and transition to a fully automated system.'

Currently, most of the security guards in the apartment are over 60 years old, and civic groups point out that if Plan 2 proceeds, mass layoffs exceeding 30 people could occur.

Twenty civic groups, including the Gangbuk-gu Labor Rights Network, stated in a press release, "Labeling security workers over 60 as inefficient or neglectful is a dismissal threat to all 87 employees," and emphasized, "If such mass replacement begins, the employment of security workers in similar situations will inevitably become more unstable."

Meanwhile, the apartment complex had proposed security guard reduction plans twice before, in 2015 and 2020, but both were withdrawn due to opposition from residents. This fact had drawn attention as a representative case of coexistence between apartment residents and security guards. This current move to reduce security personnel is the third attempt.