"The Neighbor Is Truly Ugly"... Lying Down on Moving Day, Apartment Posts 'Elevator Use Fee 5 Million Won'

Worsening Local Unsold Housing, Developers Offer Discounts
Existing Residents Strongly Oppose... Conflict Intensifies

In Gwangyang, Jeollanam-do, residents opposing the 'discounted sale' of an apartment have blocked moving vehicles of new tenants from entering, sparking expected controversy. Last year, this apartment complex also stirred controversy by imposing a 5 million won elevator usage fee to prevent discounted sales.

Recently, a post titled "Our apartment is in chaos" was uploaded on an online community. The author, Mr. A, explained the situation, saying, "Opposing the discounted sale units, (existing residents) lay down to block the moving vehicles of incoming tenants," adding, "They also shouted for them not to move in and called them disgusting; it's quite something."

Existing residents gathered to block the moving truck entrance Photo source: Online community capture

He continued, "I'm worried about what the children will see and learn, so I want to leave this apartment," and lamented, "Although we are from the same complex, it felt like a truly ugly day. I even told my wife not to go out there during the day and associate with those who are hardly human."

The collective action by existing residents to block new tenants was reportedly first decided on the 20th of last month. In a post on a local real estate community, resident Mr. B stated that it was a decision by the residents' council, saying, "There is no resentment towards those interested in discounted sales, and existing buyers and residents are not at fault. However, the residents cannot just stand by and watch the discounted sale contract holders move in."

The apartment posted a notice last year stating that new moving-in households would be charged 5 million won for elevator usage. [Image source=Online community capture]

Last year, this apartment also caused controversy by posting a notice imposing a 5 million won elevator usage fee when moving in. This was interpreted as a measure to block residents moving in through discounted sales. Additionally, notices were posted stating "If discounted sale units are caught moving in, parking fees will be applied at 50 times the normal rate," and "Community and common facilities usage prohibited."

When other netizens criticized these actions as unreasonable power abuse, Mr. B responded, "What else can existing residents do besides this?" and asked for understanding of the differing positions.

As the number of unsold apartment units increases, conflicts between construction companies trying to minimize unsold inventory and existing residents trying to block discounted sales are intensifying.

A banner condemning discounted sales hung at an apartment in Dong-gu, Daegu [Image source=HogangNono]

In February, a similar incident occurred in Yulamdong, Dong-gu, Daegu, where an apartment developer attempted discounted sales under shocking conditions such as "payment of the remaining balance after 5 years" and "up to 90 million won discount," but the plan was put on hold due to strong opposition from residents fearing a drop in housing prices.

At that time, residents conducted a so-called "truck protest" by sending trucks to the developer's headquarters and blocked the apartment entrance with vehicles. They also demanded that residents moving in through discounted sales pay 20% more in maintenance fees.

The unsold apartment situation also shows a temperature difference between the metropolitan area and provinces. According to data from the Housing and Urban Guarantee Corporation (HUG), as of the fourth quarter of last year, the initial sales rate of private apartments in Seoul was 100%, but only 69.8% in the provinces. This figure dropped by 6.8 percentage points from 76.6% in the third quarter of the same year.