"Feeling Like Receiving 1 Million Won"... 'White Envelope' Received After Distributing Rice Cakes at the Security Office

Let's Celebrate with Rice Cakes for Baby's 100th Day and Receive Congratulations Money

A resident of an apartment moved netizens' hearts with a story about receiving a 'congratulatory gift' after giving rice cakes for their child's 100th-day celebration to the security office.

On the 2nd, a post titled "Security Guard's Congratulatory Gift" was uploaded on an online community. Resident A said, "For my child's 100th day, I prepared a table with rice cakes and an apple, which I gave to the security guard, and he gratefully accepted them."

After distributing the celebratory rice cakes, A was about to leave after finishing recycling when the doorbell rang. When A opened the front door, the security guard was standing there and handed A a white envelope with '祝 百日 (Chuk Baekil)' written on it.

Congratulatory money received by apartment resident Mr. A. [Image source=Online community]

A explained the situation, saying, "(The guard) congratulated me on the 100th day and said I shouldn't just eat the food, so I should accept this." Although A firmly refused, the guard said it was a small amount and not to worry, then left without looking back.

A added, "It's 10,000 won, but to me, it felt like 100,000 or 1,000,000 won," and "It reminded me of my late father, and my heart welled up. I am grateful to the security guard who gave me an unexpected gift."

Netizens who heard the story praised it, saying, "It's a heartwarming story," and "The security guard is admirable." One netizen said, "In an era when many residents treat apartment security guards coldly, this story gives hope."

In reality, conflicts between some residents, security guards, and apartment managers often occur. Earlier, on March 14, a man in his 70s named Park, who had worked as a security guard for 11 years at an apartment in Seoul, left a suicide note to colleagues saying he was struggling due to the 'abuse of power by the management supervisor' and then took his own life.

Afterward, the apartment management office staff hung a banner to commemorate Park, but it had to be taken down due to protests from some residents who said, "It will lower property values."

Also, according to the 'Security Worker Abuse Report' released by Workplace Abuse 119 on the 16th of the same month, all nine security workers interviewed in-depth responded that they had experienced abuse such as yelling, insults, appearance disparagement, being belittled as doing menial work, unfair work orders, and interference from residents.