Reserve for long-term repairs for apartments: 11 trillion won, “Constant surveillance network required”

Jo In-cheol "3,000 cases of violation of regulations over 5 years... only 400 fines imposed"

(Gwangju, Jeollanam-do = Yonhap News) Reporter Min Hyun-ki = Over the past five years, more than 3,000 cases of violations have been detected, such as not using or properly accumulating long-term repair reserves collected for the repair and replacement of major facilities in apartment complexes.

According to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's apartment complex audit data released on the 7th by Representative Jo In-cheol of the Democratic Party of Korea (West Gap, Gwangju, Jeollanam-do), a member of the Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee of the National Assembly, there were a total of 3,299 violations related to long-term repair reserves from 2021 to 2025.

Long-term repair reserves are money accumulated to repair or replace public facilities, such as replacement of elevators and old pipes, and painting of exterior walls. As of last June, the nationwide reserve amount was 11.168 trillion won.

The number of violations by year was 579 in 2021, 588 in 2022, 673 each in 2023 and 2024, and 786 last year.

By type, there were 833 cases (25.3%) of 'use for purposes other than purpose', such as general management fees or expenses, and 414 cases (12.5%) of 'non-accumulation' of not accumulating a set amount.

There were 60 cases of false accounting, 2 cases of embezzlement and misappropriation, and 1,990 other violations.

During the same period, out of 3,283 follow-up measures, 1,592 were administrative guidance and 1,279 were corrective orders, accounting for 87.5% of the total.

Fines for negligence were imposed in 408 cases (12.4%), and investigation requests and complaints were made in 3 cases (0.1%).

Representative Cho pointed out that although monthly charges and usage details and bidding information are disclosed through the Apartment Housing Management Information System (K-apt), there are limits to preventing illegal execution through post-announcement and inspection alone.

Rep. Cho said, "If long-term repair reserves are neglected under the pretext of 'private autonomy' of individual complexes, damage to residents and conflicts will inevitably deepen," and "We need to go beyond the level of post-announcement of fund inflows and outflows and establish a permanent surveillance network at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport level that can look into the entire process, from compliance with accumulation standards to establishment of long-term repair plans."