“Would Adults Do Such a Thing?” Apartment Complex Gripped by Fear Due to Indiscriminate Throwing

Dumbbells and Trash Thrown
by Consciences
in a Terrifying Apartment Complex

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo Byung-don] #Jin (36), a resident of an apartment in Guro-gu, Seoul, recently experienced a shocking incident while walking within the complex. A neatly folded snack bag fell right in front of Jin’s feet from the air. Startled, Jin looked up but couldn’t determine where the trash had come from, as several balcony windows were open. Recalling neighbors’ stories about empty drink cans falling from the sky not long ago, Jin inquired at the management office but only received a response that they would check, with no further information.

#A similar incident occurred at an apartment in Seo-gu, Incheon. During the daytime, several balconies were smeared with hardened filth that could not be washed away with water, causing a commotion. Multiple households were affected, and the police were called, but no significant results were achieved. Resident Kim (44) lamented, "Throwing trash or foreign substances out the window carelessly is extremely dangerous," adding, "Some measures need to be taken."

Cases of throwing foreign substances out of windows are increasing in multi-family housing complexes where tens to hundreds of people live. The types of debris range from household waste to heavy objects, posing risks of personal injury and emerging as a social issue beyond mere complaints.

The throwing of foreign substances out of windows and the resulting damage are no longer just apartment issues. Bae (32), living in an officetel in Yongin-si, Gyeonggi Province, suffers from food waste falling from somewhere upstairs from time to time. The debris varies from leftover cup noodles to kimchi juice.

Because it is difficult to identify the perpetrators of such acts, finding appropriate solutions is challenging. The management office can only request restraint through announcements. However, this is a clear criminal act, and if the culprit is identified, charges such as special injury or attempted special injury can be applied. Special injury is a serious crime punishable by imprisonment from 2 to 20 years.

In fact, a man who was prosecuted for dropping an 8kg dumbbell from the rooftop of an apartment in Jungnang-gu, Seoul, received a suspended sentence. Although part of a nearby store’s terrace was damaged, fortunately, no casualties occurred, narrowly avoiding imprisonment.

Given the situation, a system capable of tracking objects falling from high places was recently developed in China. This was to prevent repeating cases like in 2016, when a steel ball dropped from a high floor of an apartment killed a one-year-old girl, but the person who threw the ball was not found, leading all households except those unoccupied to compensate.

Experts warn that throwing objects from high places can harm an unspecified number of people and is subject to strict punishment. A police official emphasized, "In apartment complexes, residents often walk by and cars are parked, so the possibility of casualties is sufficiently foreseeable, making it likely that indirect intent will be recognized," adding, "People must be aware that this is a crime."