Even Paying 25,000 Won Monthly, Apartment Community Facilities Run a 17.15 Million Won Deficit... The Paradox of Upscale Amenities

Unable to Cover Labor and Utility Costs Even With Monthly Fees

"Why Should We Pay if We Don't Use Them?" Residents Protest Additional Contributions

The "hotel-grade community facilities" of newly built apartment complexes—featuring amenities such as swimming pools, saunas, and golf practice rooms—have become a source of conflict among residents. Although these facilities were promoted at the time of sale as features that would improve residential satisfaction and increase apartment values, after move-in, disputes have arisen over high maintenance costs, low utilization rates, and issues surrounding cost sharing. On August 3, Yonhap News reported that, as more than half of the population now resides in apartments, the management of community facilities is emerging as a new area of conflict in multi-family housing.

The "hotel-grade community facilities" of a newly built apartment complex, which include a swimming pool, sauna, and golf practice range, have become a source of conflict among residents. Photo by Dongju Yoon

According to the report, disputes are occurring in many complexes over whether it is appropriate to charge residents who do not use apartment community facilities for the costs of running them. In an apartment complex in Seongdong-gu, Seoul, with about 900 households, community facilities such as the gym and golf practice rooms suspended operations for around three weeks last month. This was due to a change in management company and ongoing operating deficits. In this complex, all households pay a basic monthly fee of 25,000 won, and must pay additional fees for lessons or excessive use.

Operating at a Loss Despite Monthly Fees... Disputes Over Closures and Additional Charges

In May, total revenue from basic and individual usage fees reached 66.51 million won, but expenditures such as labor and facility maintenance costs exceeded 80 million won, resulting in a deficit of 17.15 million won. The management office subsequently issued a notice to collect an additional 18,000 won per household. Among residents, some objected that it was unfair for households not using the facilities to pay the same amount, while others complained that it was an issue for management to suspend operations after moving in because of the appeal of these upscale facilities.

The background of conflicts over community facilities lies in the upscale competition in the apartment sales market. In the past, senior centers, daycare centers, and small libraries were the main communal facilities, but recently, swimming pools, saunas, movie theaters, bowling alleys, climbing walls, music practice rooms, and pet washing stations have also appeared. The photo is not related to any specific content of the article. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung

Similar conflicts are arising in other regions. At an apartment complex in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, a resident vote is scheduled to decide whether to charge separate fees to users of sports facilities during summer and winter due to the burden of air conditioning and heating costs. In a complex with 4,000 households in Dongnae-gu, Busan, residents continue to protest as deficits from community facilities are reflected in the maintenance fees. In some complexes, opinions are divided over whether the community facilities should remain exclusive to residents or be opened to the public to generate revenue.

A Selling Point at Launch, a Burden After Move-in

The root of conflicts over community facilities stems from competition for upscale features in the apartment sales market. In the past, communal facilities mainly included senior centers, daycare centers, or small libraries, but recently, swimming pools, saunas, movie theaters, bowling alleys, climbing walls, music practice rooms, and pet washing stations have made appearances. As the range of facilities diversifies, the need for more management staff, as well as increased electricity, water, and HVAC costs, grows. In particular, swimming pools and saunas incur high fixed costs because water quality and temperature must be maintained even when there are few users.

According to data from the Multi-Family Housing Management Information System, the average apartment maintenance fee nationwide rose by about 24%, from 2,442 won per square meter of exclusive area in 2021 to 3,033 won in 2025. With the addition of community facility operating costs, the burden felt by residents is growing even more palpable. However, some argue that community facilities are shared assets that enhance the convenience and value of the complex and, therefore, even households that do not use the facilities should shoulder some of the costs. Whether these costs are covered through maintenance fees or charged separately to users is ultimately determined by each complex’s management regulations and the decisions made by resident representative councils.

According to data from the Multi-Family Housing Management Information System, the average apartment maintenance fee nationwide increased by about 24%, from 2,442 KRW per square meter of exclusive area in 2021 to 3,033 KRW in 2025. With the addition of community facility operating costs, the burden felt by residents is growing even more. Photo by Dongju Yoon

Some experts point out that these facilities should not be viewed merely as sales and marketing tools. They emphasize the importance of analyzing expected utilization rates and operating expenses at the design stage and creating long-term plans that include equipment replacement and major repairs. They also recommend that income, expenditures, and utilization rates for each facility should be transparently disclosed, and that residents’ opinions should be fully collected when deciding on closures or additional charges.

Ultimately, community facilities require sustainable operation rather than simply showcasing their scale. Without proper assessment of long-term costs, merely increasing the number of such facilities can turn spaces intended to enhance resident welfare into burdensome "expensive white elephants" that increase maintenance fees and fuel conflict.

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