Conflicts Between Delivery Workers and Residents Continue
This Time, 'Barrier Remote Deposit' Demanded
Deposit 50,000 Won to Use Remote for Parcel Delivery
Parcel delivery enriches the busy lives of modern people who don't even have time to shop. While 'same-day delivery,' where orders placed in the morning are delivered by evening, is becoming common, stories of conflicts between delivery workers and residents frequently surface. This time, a controversy arose after an apartment management office demanded a 50,000 KRW deposit for barrier gate remote controls from delivery workers.
An apartment that demanded a 50,000 won deposit for the circuit breaker remote control to deliver parcels. [Photo by Online Community]
On the 1st, a post titled "The Most Extreme Apartment Ever" was uploaded to an online community. The author, Mr. A, who works as a delivery worker, shared a photo of a notice posted at the entrance of an apartment complex, saying, "I've been to all sorts of strange places in my life, but this is the first time I've seen something like this."
The notice read, "From November 1st, the barrier gate will be operational. Delivery vehicles must deposit a 50,000 KRW security deposit at the management office in advance and receive a remote control for use." This means that without paying the deposit, entry to the apartment is not allowed, naturally causing disruptions to parcel deliveries.
Mr. A lamented, "I wonder if I have to keep the remote control permanently," and added, "I'm currently coordinating with the company representative and am unsure how to proceed."
Netizens who read the story responded with comments such as, "If more apartments do this, delivery workers will end up carrying a bunch of remotes on their cars," "I don't understand why delivery workers have to pay this and then get the deposit back later," "They'll probably charge extra if you lose the remote," "I don't get why they're doing this," and "Just stop delivering parcels there."
On the other hand, netizen Mr. B argued, "Looking at the photo, the apartment has no driveway on the ground level, so in principle, deliveries should be made through the underground parking entrance. It seems they give remotes for convenience to allow access from the ground level," and added, "The 50,000 KRW is a deposit against loss or damage of the remote, so it's reasonable to collect it. The fact that they allow delivery vehicles on pedestrian sidewalks shows the apartment is considerate toward delivery workers."
Meanwhile, conflicts between delivery workers and residents in apartments have long been commonplace. In January last year, a residents' representative meeting in an apartment complex in Sejong City faced backlash after attempting to charge delivery workers for elevator usage. At the time, an apartment official explained, "We understand delivery workers have a tough job, but there were complaints that the elevator use was inconvenient because the workers pressed buttons for every floor during deliveries," and added, "There are other apartment complexes in Sejong City that also charge usage fees."
In 2021, when an apartment complex in Seoul blocked delivery vehicle access, delivery workers protested and declared they would stop delivering to individual unit doors. Residents argued for banning delivery vehicles from ground-level access to prevent safety accidents involving children and to protect sidewalks and flower beds from damage caused by trucks. However, the delivery workers' union opposed this, calling the ban a typical case of abuse of power.
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