Weak security in small housing leaves single women in fear

A young woman living alone in an apartment in Jeonju, South Korea, recently experienced a harrowing incident when a stranger followed her from the street all the way to her fourth-floor apartment. The man entered the building's common entrance behind her and proceeded to follow her closely. Although the man retreated to the rooftop when she reached for her phone, the incident left her deeply shaken. She reported the man for trespassing, and the case has since been forwarded to the prosecution. The victim expressed her fear, stating, "The CCTV in the villa was not working, and the common entrance lock was useless. My daily life has become a nightmare."

This incident highlights a significant vulnerability faced by single female residents in smaller housing complexes like villas and officetels. Unlike larger apartment buildings, these smaller structures are not subject to mandatory crime prevention building standards. This lack of regulation leaves residents, particularly women living alone, more susceptible to crimes such as trespassing and stalking. A petition has been filed on the National Assembly's public petition board urging the mandatory implementation of security standards for small residential facilities to enhance the safety of single-occupant female households.

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The CCTV in the villa was not working, and the common entrance lock was useless. My daily life has become a nightmare.

Under current building laws, multi-family homes, officetels, and apartments with fewer than 100 units are not required to install access control systems at entrances, door chains on individual units, or window locks. While larger apartment complexes (over 100 units) must install CCTV cameras in common areas like the first floor, rooftop entrances, and elevators, these are merely recommendations for smaller facilities. Consequently, many developers of smaller residential buildings opt not to install comprehensive security measures.

In contrast, countries like the United Kingdom and Japan have much stricter security standards for smaller residential properties. The UK mandates video intercoms and access control devices for common entrances in residential buildings with five or more units. Buildings with 11 or more units require an additional inner door at the common entrance to prevent unauthorized entry, and those with 26 or more units must have access control on each floor. Japan has an active "Crime Prevention Excellent Mansion Certification System" where government bodies, local authorities, and private foundations collaborate to inspect and certify small housing units that meet security standards.

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The current crime prevention building standards do not adequately reflect the specific crime characteristics of different building types.

Women who feel unsafe are often forced to bear the financial burden of improving their own security. One resident, after experiencing a man banging on her door and threatening her, moved to an officetel with a common entrance lock, sacrificing living space to afford it. Another resident increased her rent by 200,000 won to move to a room on a floor with a common entrance. While some local governments offer support for safety equipment like double door locks and smart doorbells for single-occupant households, these programs have limited reach as they require application.

Experts emphasize the need for legislative changes to elevate the overall safety standards of smaller residential buildings. Professor Kang Seok-jin of Gyeongsang National University's Department of Architecture notes that current crime prevention building standards do not adequately reflect the specific crime characteristics of different building types. He suggests that enhanced crime prevention environmental design standards should be applied in areas with a high concentration of single female residents. Kim Eun-hee, a researcher at the Korea Institute of Architecture and Space, proposes that local governments could subsidize building owners who install security and locking devices. She also suggests implementing administrative measures requiring buildings in crime-vulnerable areas or housing vulnerable populations to meet certain safety standards before construction permits are granted.

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Buildings in crime-vulnerable areas or housing vulnerable populations should be required to meet certain safety standards before construction permits are granted.