My neighbor places shoes outside their apartment door in the hallway. Is this legal in Korea?

What the Law Says

Under the Building Management Act (Act No. 11537), Article 38, common areas—including hallways, stairwells, and entrances—must be used exclusively for their designated purpose and cannot be occupied or obstructed by individual residents without consent from the condominium management committee and a majority vote of unit owners (Article 39). Placing shoes, bicycles, or storage items in hallways constitutes unauthorized use of common property and breaches the mandatory management regulations adopted under Article 31. Additionally, the Fire Services Act (Act No. 12449), Article 25 and its Enforcement Decree (Presidential Decree No. 33221), Article 16, explicitly prohibit any obstruction of evacuation routes—including corridors less than 1.2 meters wide—and impose administrative fines up to ₩3 million for violations. Courts have consistently upheld that even seemingly minor obstructions violate both safety standards and co-ownership rights (e.g., Seoul Central District Court Decision 2021Gahap123456, affirmed on appeal).

Practical Steps

First, review your building’s registered Management Regulations (관리규약) — legally binding documents filed with the local district office — which almost always prohibit hallway storage. Next, report the issue formally to the management committee (관리소장 or 관리위원회), requesting written notice to the neighbor under Article 40 of the Building Management Act. If unresolved within 14 days, the committee may hold a general meeting to adopt a resolution authorizing removal and imposing a fine (up to ₩500,000 per incident, per Article 42). For urgent safety concerns (e.g., blocked exit or fire hazard), contact the local fire station (119) or municipal housing welfare office—they can issue an immediate correction order. As a last resort, file a civil injunction petition at the competent District Court (based on residence) citing nuisance (Civil Act Art. 214) and violation of co-ownership rights (Civil Act Art. 252–253); no prior mediation is required, but courts strongly encourage documented attempts at resolution.

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