During the heatwave, a security guard installed an 'air conditioner' at his own expense... Apartment charged for 'electricity bill'

Management Office "Decided to Bear Electricity Costs Out of Pocket"

Electricity bill for the security office of the apartment. / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Na Ye-eun] A controversy has arisen over charging security guards for the air conditioning electricity bill in the security office of an apartment in Daejeon.

Security guard A, who works at an apartment in Dunsan-dong, Seo-gu, Daejeon, recently received a bill for 152,730 KRW for cooling electricity used in four security offices. The eight security guards at the apartment reportedly divided the amount of about 20,000 KRW each and paid the electricity bill directly at the bank counter.

According to SBS, the management office stated, "Two years ago, the security guards installed air conditioners at their own expense and agreed to bear the electricity costs, so the fees were charged." However, the fee was not charged last year, and it is known that it was decided at the residents' representative meeting this time and imposed for the first time.

Security guard B said, "I understand that the residents' representative meeting decided to charge the electricity fee to the security guards," adding, "We had no choice but to divide the approximately 20,000 KRW among the eight security guards."

He continued, "I was surprised because I had never paid the electricity bill separately during work, but after receiving the bill, I went to the bank counter and paid it directly."

Meanwhile, the amount corresponds to about 340 KRW per household in this apartment complex, which houses around 450 households.