Notice says Incheon apartment guard quit over appearance complaints; office denies it
In short
A notice shared online says a security guard at an apartment in Incheon's Gyeyang district was made to quit after complaints unrelated to his work, including about his appearance, drawing anger from residents and online users. The apartment's management office denies the claim, saying the guard left after work evaluations fell short and that proper procedures were followed. The two accounts remain unreconciled in the reports.
Read the full story 2 min read
A notice posted in the elevator of an apartment in Incheon's Gyeyang district and shared online said a security guard had been made to quit after complaints unrelated to his work, including about his appearance, prompting anger from residents and online users, according to Dong-A Ilbo and Maeil Business. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
The notice, photographed in the elevator and shared on an online community on October 3, said complaints about the guard had been repeated recently and that he was made to leave over “appearance or physical reasons” with no direct link to his duties, Dong-A Ilbo reported. The author wrote, “Is it truly right to make a person quit a job their livelihood depends on for such reasons?” and “As a fellow resident, I am truly ashamed.” The author called the action “another form of violence” and “gapjil”, a term for abuse of power, and urged the complainant to reflect, with Maeil Business quoting the author telling the person not to “bully the weak”. Memos from other residents supporting the author were attached to the notice, Dong-A Ilbo reported. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
The story spread on online communities, where Maeil Business said one post carried the title “The reason you filed a complaint and fired the guard — are you human?” Dong-A Ilbo reported on the case on October 6 and Maeil Business on October 7. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
The apartment's management office said the claim was not true. Citing News1, Maeil Business reported that the guard, a 69-year-old man surnamed A, was hired on April 1, finished about three months of probation and received work evaluations that fell short of the standard for renewing his contract. The office extended his contract once, but his evaluations again missed the standard, and retirement procedures were carried out on September 30, the office told News1. The office said it followed proper procedures, including receiving his resignation letter, and that the complaint-related account posted online was groundless. [ 4 ]
The accounts differ: the notice says the guard left because of appearance-related complaints, while the management office attributes his departure to work evaluations. Neither the author of the notice nor the person said to have complained is identified in the reports. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
Why it matters
The case drew attention to how complaints against apartment staff are handled and to the treatment of service workers, though the documents offer no data beyond this one building. It also shows how quickly an unverified account can spread online, and how the accused party's denial followed only after the story went viral.
Key facts
- A notice posted in the elevator of an apartment in Incheon's Gyeyang district said a security guard was made to quit over complaints unrelated to his work, including his appearance or physical condition. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- The notice was photographed and shared on an online community on October 3, and the story drew anger from residents and online users. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The notice's author called the action “another form of violence” and “gapjil”, said they were ashamed as a fellow resident, and urged the complainant to reflect. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Other residents attached memos to the notice agreeing with the author. [ 2 , 3 ]
- The apartment's management office said the claim that the guard quit because of appearance-related complaints was not true. [ 4 ]
- According to News1, cited by Maeil Business, the guard, a 69-year-old man surnamed A, was hired on April 1, fell short in work evaluations and left on September 30 through what the office called proper procedures. [ 4 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- A notice circulated at an apartment in Incheon's Gyeyang district said a security guard was made to quit over complaints unrelated to his duties, such as his appearance or physical condition. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- The notice's author described the action as “another form of violence” and “gapjil” and asked the complainant to reflect, saying they were ashamed as a fellow resident. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
Still unclear
- Why the security guard left his job. The notice says he was made to quit over appearance-related complaints, while the management office attributes the departure to work evaluations that fell short of renewal standards; only the office's account gives employment dates, and it is reported through a single outlet citing News1.
- Who wrote the notice and who filed the complaints. The reports do not identify the author of the notice or the resident or residents said to have complained.
- The notice photo was shared on an online community on October 3. Reported by a single source so far
- Residents left memos on the notice agreeing with the author. Reported by a single source so far
- The apartment's management office stated that the claim about appearance-related complaints was not true. Reported by a single source so far
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Newsis publishes a report on the apartment notice and residents' anger (October 6). [ 1 ]
- Dong-A Ilbo reports the elevator notice shared online on October 3 and the resulting backlash (October 6). [ 2 ]
- Dong-A Ilbo publishes a follow-up with the notice text and the memos from supporting residents (October 6). [ 3 ]
- Maeil Business reports the management office's denial, citing News1: the guard, 69, was hired on April 1, missed renewal standards in evaluations and left on September 30 (October 7). [ 4 ]