Filtering Sex Offenders and Child Abusers... Songpa-gu to Conduct Criminal Background Checks on 2,000 Security Workers

Sex Offenders and Child Abusers Prohibited from Security Jobs in Apartment Complexes
Dismissal Demanded if Convicted Individuals Are Found Working

Songpa-gu, Seoul (Mayor Seo Gang-seok) announced on the 24th that it will conduct criminal background checks on more than 2,000 security workers in all apartment complexes within the district by August to create a safe residential environment free from sex crimes and child abuse.

Under current law, individuals with a history of sex crimes or child abuse are prohibited from being employed as security personnel in apartment complexes. While apartment complex management entities verify criminal background certificates when hiring security workers, the possibility of crimes occurring after employment cannot be ruled out, making continuous monitoring by the competent authorities essential.

Accordingly, the district conducts criminal background checks on security workers in apartment complexes at least once a year. This year, it will inspect over 2,000 workers, including those working in 123 apartment complexes with 150 or more households, which are subject to mandatory legal management, as well as workers in smaller apartment complexes not subject to mandatory management.

The inspection process involves the district requesting personal information of security workers from apartment complex management entities and then submitting the received information to the police station for identity verification. According to relevant laws, the consent of the individual is not required for criminal background checks.

A district official explained the purpose of the inspection, saying, “Given the nature of security workers’ duties, who are responsible for apartment complex security and frequently interact with residents, conducting annual criminal background checks will greatly help prevent crimes against children and adolescents within apartment complexes.”

If a specific individual’s criminal record is confirmed, the district will take various administrative sanctions to ensure residents’ safety. First, it will request the apartment complex management entity to dismiss the individual with a criminal record, and if they fail to comply without justifiable reasons, a fine of up to 10 million KRW will be imposed. On-site inspections will also be conducted to verify whether criminal background checks were performed at the time of hiring, and if not, a fine of up to 5 million KRW will be imposed.

Mayor Seo Gang-seok stated, “Protecting residents from harm and creating a safe living environment is the foundation of urban safety,” adding, “We will do our best to provide a residential environment where everyone can live without fear of crime through proactive measures and the establishment of a response system for crime prevention.”