Listing Nine Types of Verbal Abuse, Then 'All Management Office Staff Resign'... What Happened at Ulsan Apartment?

Claims of Verbal Abuse and Unreasonable Work Orders
Residents' Council: "Facts Have Not Been Confirmed"
"Will Respond According to Results of Local Government Investigation"

All employees of the management office at an apartment complex in Ulsan have collectively submitted their resignations, claiming that they have suffered power harassment from certain representatives of the apartment buildings. They stated that verbal abuse and unreasonable work orders have made it impossible for them to work normally, and they reported experiencing severe psychological stress.

A recent post inside an elevator of an apartment in Ulsan. Yonhap News

On July 7, Yonhap News reported that "a post titled 'All Management Office Employees Resign' was recently put up inside the apartment's elevator." The post stated, "Due to the repeated and structural problems caused by some building representatives, we have determined that it is no longer possible to perform our duties normally, and all management office employees have been forced to resign." The employees cited nine specific reasons for their resignations, including unfair shifting of responsibility, verbal abuse, insulting remarks, unreasonable work orders, improper interference in staff hiring, and infringement on the autonomy of vacation scheduling.

The employees claimed that various forms of personal insults and abusive language from the building representatives have continued for nearly a year, reaching an unbearable level. One employee told Yonhap News, "While discussing a civil complaint, a building representative threatened me, saying, 'Should I make it so you can't sleep at night?'" Another employee said, "Because I was late in maintaining a communal trash can, a representative kicked the trash can in front of other residents and humiliated me. In that moment, my self-esteem was shattered."

The employees also stated that their summer vacation schedules were rejected on the grounds that they would be discussed at a meeting of the building representatives, and that the holiday bonus, which had been set at 75% of the base salary, was unilaterally changed to a flat 400,000 won during the last Lunar New Year. Some employees reportedly received hospital treatment for symptoms such as heart palpitations and tinnitus caused by prolonged stress.

A total of nine employees work at the management office of this apartment complex. All of them have now submitted their resignations and are reportedly planning to leave after working until the end of this month. The management office staff have also filed complaints with the relevant authorities, including Buk-gu Office of Ulsan and the Ministry of Employment and Labor, through the National Sinmungo online petition system.

The residents' representative council stated that since the specific facts have not yet been confirmed, they will respond according to the results of the local government's investigation. In a post inside the apartment elevator, the council said, "We will promptly respond after thoroughly reviewing any breaches of contract by the management service provider," and added, "We will strive to carry out tasks that provide practical benefits to residents and to mediate conflicts."