Recently the Korean government announced that minimum wage policy would be applied
even to apartment security staffs by 2015 who had been waived from the policy enforcement
for their unique work conditions. This caused apartment management to introduce unmanned
security system instead of employing security staffs because of fearing possible hike of
management fees. People recklessly tend to believe unmaned system is cheaper than maned
system if minimum wage guideline is applied. This study examines the economic feasibility
of two different apartment security systems by utilizing cost-benefit analysis: maned and
unmaned security systems.
The authors estimate the costs and the benefits of each security system for 5
years(2014-2018) with application of social discount rate(5.5%). Thirty six apartment
complexes at 8 different areas(meons and dongs) in Asan, Chungcheongnam-do province
were surveyed. And to attain the exact costs of unmaned system establishment and operation,
the authors interviewed persons working for the unmaned security corporations.
The benefit-cost(B/C) ratio for unmanned security system is 1.66% at minimum and
1.30% at maximum. while B/C ratio for manned security system is 1.42% and 1.66%
respectively. This results mean that people's belief is not correct, that is, transferring from
maned system to unmaned is not always economically efficient. Benefits of maned security
system is more diverse than unmaned system. The former provides living
conveniences(parking helps and keeping parcels) and social benefits(employing aged worker
and giving them opportunities to enjoy happier lives) as well as security benefits like crime prevention. The latter provides security benefits only, but that effect is also doubtable. Taking
into account these diverse benefits maned system provides, the B/C ratio of maned system
is equitable or higher than unmaned system.