Elementary School Students Mock Security Guards for Stopping Bicycle Riding Near Apartment

Poor Working Conditions Persist Despite 2 Years of Gapjil Prevention Law Enforcement
Most Apartment Security Guards Are Elderly Aged 60 and Above

A video claiming that students riding bicycles in an apartment complex insulted the apartment and mocked the security guard after being stopped by the guard has been uploaded on social networking services (SNS). On the 30th of last month, a short video was posted on Instagram. The video showed a security guard at an apartment in Seoul and several students presumed to be elementary school students. They were gathered around bicycles, pointing fingers at the security guard as if protesting, and speaking loudly. The students’ laughter was mixed in, making it difficult to clearly hear what they were saying.

A video claiming that students riding bicycles in an apartment complex insulted the apartment and mocked the security guard after being stopped by the guard was posted on social networking service (SNS).
[Photo by Instagram 'chergiela']

The person who filmed the video said, "I don’t know what I just witnessed. The security uncle warned that riding bicycles on the sidewalk blocks in the apartment complex is dangerous and not allowed, but the kids were arguing with him. They could have just said 'yes,' but after I turned off the video, they said, 'This apartment is XX bad. XX.' I was about to ignore it but intervened. The security uncle said, 'Kids these days...' and let it go, but I felt a surge of anger," emphasizing the situation.

He added, "They mocked him with laughter, as if he was their grandfather, and confronted him head-on. If you see this, I want you to watch your behavior on video again and tell your parents to properly educate you." Netizens who saw this responded with comments like, "They seem to have learned from adults," and "These days, if you say something unpleasant to kids, you have to be ready to confront them."

Despite the Enforcement of the Security Guard Abuse Prevention Act, Working Conditions Remain Poor

Two years after Choi, who worked as a security guard at an apartment in Gangbuk, Seoul, in 2020, committed suicide due to enduring assault and verbal abuse from residents, the "Security Guard Protection Act (Apartment Management Act)" was enacted. The main content prohibits residents and management entities from giving security guards unfair orders unrelated to their duties in apartment complexes with more than 300 households. Although two years have passed since the implementation of the Protection Act, the harsh labor conditions of apartment security guards and complaints from residents have not significantly changed.
[Photo by Kim Hyunmin, Asia Economy kimhyun81@]

Previously, in 2020, after Choi, a security guard working at an apartment in Gangbuk, Seoul, could no longer endure assault and verbal abuse from residents and committed suicide, the 'Security Guard Abuse Prevention Act (Apartment Complex Management Act)' was enacted two years later. The main content prohibits residents and management entities in apartment complexes with more than 300 households from giving security guards unfair orders unrelated to their duties. Although two years have passed since the enforcement of the Abuse Prevention Act, the harsh labor conditions of apartment security guards and complaints from residents have not significantly changed.

Above all, most apartment security guards are elderly, aged 60 or older. Statistics show that nearly 30% are over 70 years old. They take on security guard roles as a second career after retirement, but suffer from harsh working conditions and abusive complaints. Since the current Security Guard Abuse Prevention Act has not been very effective, some argue that it should be revised to provide structural solutions and promote awareness improvement.