"Hand Over Your ID and Motorcycle Keys": Which 'Celestial Dragon Apartments' Are Most Avoided by Delivery Workers?

Deduction of Delivery Fee Notified Upon Refusal, Later Withdrawn

Netizens Say, "Residents Should Come Down to Pick Up Themselves"

Controversy has arisen over access control measures at some apartment complexes that require delivery workers to remove their helmets, provide personal information, or use freight elevators instead of regular elevators. Those in favor argue that these measures are necessary for the safety and security of residents, while critics denounce them as discriminatory practices that treat specific professions as potential criminals.

Controversy has arisen over access restrictions in some apartment complexes that require delivery workers to remove their helmets or provide personal information, and mandate the use of freight elevators instead of regular elevators. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

According to Yonhap News Agency on July 30, some delivery workers have started referring to certain apartment complexes with excessive entry requirements as "Celestial Dragon Apartments," likening them to the privileged class in the popular manga "One Piece." This has led to avoidance of such complexes by couriers. In addition, maps marking these apartment complexes have circulated widely across online communities and social media platforms, further spreading the controversy nationwide.

The controversy over "Celestial Dragon Apartments" escalated following the recent upload of a video filmed at an apartment complex in Busan to YouTube. In the video, delivery worker A attempted to enter the apartment to deliver food but was asked by a security officer to remove his helmet and write down personal information in the entry log. When A refused, he was denied entry and reportedly had to ask the customer to come downstairs to receive the food directly.

The map displaying the respective apartments has been shared through online communities and social networking services (SNS), spreading the controversy nationwide. Screenshot from SNS

Subsequently, A was informed that the delivery fee might be deducted on the grounds that the delivery had not been completed properly. It is reported that this deduction notice was withdrawn only after A explained the situation and questioned whether the privacy and human rights of delivery workers should not also be protected.

Viewers of the video criticized the situation, saying, "Customers order deliveries to their doors, yet treat the delivery worker as a potential criminal," "If they are concerned about outsiders entering, residents should come to the lobby to pick up their deliveries," and "It is discriminatory to impose excessive procedures on certain professions under the guise of security." On the other hand, some noted, "Given the nature of multi-family housing, it is necessary to have procedures to verify the identity of visitors."

Order Refusal Difficult Due to Acceptance Rate and Performance

Some suggest that simply refusing such deliveries would suffice, but delivery workers argue that, in reality, it is difficult to selectively reject orders. Because order acceptance rates and delivery performance can affect dispatch assignments and ranking, repeatedly refusing orders from certain apartments may make it more difficult to receive orders under favorable conditions. Rider Union filed a complaint with the National Human Rights Commission in 2021 regarding such discriminatory entry measures at apartment complexes, but pointed out that the overall situation has not improved significantly.

Rider Union filed a complaint with the National Human Rights Commission in 2021 regarding discriminatory entry measures at an apartment complex, but pointed out that the on-site situation has not significantly changed. Photo by Jinhyung Kang

Ku Kyohyun, branch head of Rider Union, stated, "Even if apartments request personal information and a contact number, it is difficult for riders to deal with on the spot." He also emphasized, "Platform companies should inform riders of access procedures in advance at the order acceptance stage and proactively mediate if there are excessive demands or disputes." Meanwhile, apartment management representatives maintain that such measures are unavoidable for the safety and crime prevention of residents. An official from an apartment complex in Seocho-gu, Seoul explained, "We impose a certain level of control on outsiders' entry for residents' safety, and all visitors, including delivery workers, must undergo identity verification procedures without exception."

Legal Concerns Over Requests for Copies of IDs and Resident Registration Numbers

However, legal experts point out that collecting more personal information than necessary for verifying the purpose of entry has the potential to be illegal. Ha Heebong, head lawyer at LawFeed Law Office, told Yonhap News Agency, "There is a significant difference between visually confirming an ID and requiring a copy or a resident registration number. If refusing to provide personal information leads to an inability to deliver, it may be difficult to consider such written consent as genuine consent given freely," he stated.

Some argue that drivers can simply refuse delivery, but reporters point out that it is realistically difficult to selectively accept orders. Acceptance rates and driving performance can affect allocation and ranking, so repeatedly rejecting orders from certain apartments may make it harder to receive orders with relatively favorable conditions. Photo by Hyunmin Kim

Meanwhile, as the controversy grows, a representative of Woowa Brothers, the operator of a leading delivery platform, stated, "We offer support programs such as legal and psychological counseling and guidance on industrial accident insurance if a rider experiences unfair treatment onsite, and we will continue to closely monitor and support to ensure there are no instances of unfair treatment."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.