Illegally dumped garbage bags containing food waste
Ignored the warning notice and washed his car with just a bucket of water
"Car washes are not free"...online criticism mounts
Footage showing a customer using a car wash's facilities without paying and illegally dumping garbage brought from home has been released, sparking controversy. The video has been spreading online and drawing public outrage from internet users.
On the 24th, a post titled "Used a car wash without paying and dumped trash" was uploaded to a bulletin board on an automobile-specialized website. According to the video posted with the article, the incident occurred at around 7:35 a.m. on the 22nd. The closed-circuit (CC)TV footage shows a man driving his vehicle into the car wash. He first approached the car wash's recycling area and threw three garbage bags, which appeared to have been brought from home, into the trash bins.
Footage showing a customer using a car wash's facilities without paying and illegally dumping trash brought from home has been released, sparking controversy on the online community Bobaedream.
It was reported that the bags also contained food waste in delivery containers. Although a notice had been posted at the car wash stating, "In cases of illegal dumping, we will identify vehicle license plates through CCTV and report them," the man appeared undeterred and continued his actions. The business owner said, "We set up the recycling area for the convenience of customers using the car wash, but there are often people who come and dump large amounts of outside trash," adding, "Food waste in particular causes strong odors and hygiene problems, resulting in significant damage."
"A clear free ride"...washed the car using only water without paying
After dumping the trash, the man parked his vehicle in the washing bay. However, there was no footage of him operating the washing machines or making any payment. Instead, he simply filled a bucket with water and began wiping down the exterior of his car. The owner stated, "There was no payment record at all during that time period," and claimed, "It appears he washed his car by just drawing water without paying any facility usage fee." He went on to say, "The water bill and facility maintenance costs are entirely borne by the owner, so using the facilities in this way is a clear case of free riding." Some internet users also criticized the behavior, commenting, "The water in that bucket is not free," and "A car wash is a commercial facility, not a public good."
On the 24th, a post titled "Washing Without Paying at a Car Wash and Dumping Trash" was posted on the online community Bobae Deurim.
Reactions from internet users who watched the video were cold. Comments included, "Did he save on garbage bag costs to buy that car?", "Did he think this would be a perfect crime that no one would ever know about?", and "Wash your conscience while you're at it." One user, who identified as a small business owner, pointed out, "There are more people than you would think who secretly use the facilities without making a kiosk payment," and added, "The mindset that it is trivial because the amount is small is the real problem." Another commenter said, "Some people secretly dump their household trash just because there is a recycling area," and added, "Even with CCTV, they seem to think, 'They won't actually report me,' which shows how complacent they are."
Similar cases continue...small business owners are suffering
Similar cases of "freeloader use" have been continuously reported not only at car washes, but also at unmanned laundromats and unmanned ice cream stores. There is growing criticism that the repeated use of facilities without payment, and the illegal dumping of outside trash, are increasing the burden on small business owners. Recently, the owner of an unmanned store complained, "There are frequent cases where people take products without paying, or throw their household garbage into the store's trash cans," adding, "The time and cost required to check the CCTV footage and go through the reporting process are no small matter."
Above all, such behavior may fall under criminal charges such as theft or obstruction of business under the Criminal Act, or violations of the Waste Management Act, so people need to be especially careful. In fact, repeated illegal dumping can lead to administrative fines or even criminal punishment. Some observers warn that, as unmanned facilities become more common, a distorted perception is spreading that "it is fine as long as there is no manager present." However, they stress that unmanned systems are still commercial business spaces, and that usage fees are directly tied to the maintenance and operation of these facilities, meaning a more responsible culture of use is needed.
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