No Entrance even for Pizza Boy without Security Clearance Ticket

"Talk about noblemen? Here we come!"

On Oct. 25th, the Tower Palace in Dogok Dong, Kangnam Gu, Seoul, first accommodated its "special owners." The Tower Palace, boasted as the highest apartment building in South Korea, has exuded numerous rumors and gossips ever since its ground-breaking in 1999.

The Tower Palace is the highest residential building in Korea. For the first time, 4 buildings are open to the residents.

Moving-in itself was unique, which was done on a date believed most fortunate astrologically. The builder, Samsung, limited the number of households that could move in on a day in order to reduce the disorder and confusion new residents might have to face. For each building, as a result, 9 households can move in.

Accordingly, it will take a long time to fill the buildings with residents. Residents will finish up moving in by Dec. 15th. Usually, it takes about a month for residents to move in.

On the spot, residents received free handouts such as china sets and coupons to the family restaurants.

One Samsung official said, "I directed my staff to adjust the moving-in date for the residents, who are proud of being within top 1%. I also asked them to arrange the moving service with renowned companies."

Unlike most people expected, the belongings of the residents were simple. One employee of the moving company explained that the apartment units have most items built in, and residents themselves have newly purchased electronics goods and pieces of furniture.

Also outstanding was the airtight security. 40 employees of a security company checked out each and every moving truck and regulated the entrance of non-residents. Even the pizza delivery boy could not enter the buildings without obtaining a passage clearance ticket.

Once the settling in is completed, no delivery is allowed. Residents themselves are not allowed to enter without a security card. Visitors also have to check in at the information desk on the first floor.

The residents embarked on the tour of the Tower Palace. Most of residents showed interest in the DVD room equipped with a 200-inch screen located at the second floor, and the personal sauna built in the bathroom. Also there is a library which accommodates up to 30 students.

Nonetheless, residents have some complaints. One parent grumbled, "All the schools are located across the street." One resident worried, "Windows are too small, and I can`t open them up high."

What the residents living in the nearby apartment complexes worry most is the traffic gem. Ms. Kim Young-eun (48), a resident at Woosung Apartment Complex, worried, "The traffic gem is already hell around here. Once all residents of the Tower Palace move in, it will become more hellish."

The monthly management fee is \10,000 per 3.2 m2. Thus, a unit of 330 m2 in area costs more than \1 million a month.

Nevertheless, the price of each unit has shot up. A-type unit facing the south was originally \850 million. Now, owners put them up for \1.5 billion. The smallest unit was for \300 to 350 million. Now, it costs about \700 to 750 million to purchase. But people cannot find any unit for sale.

Among the first residents are included Prime Minister Kim Suk-soo, movie actor Park Choong-hoon, former national soccer coach Cha Bum-keun, and a comedian Kim Mi-hwa.

In terms of occupation, entrepreneurs top the list (42%). Next come the doctors, professors, lawyers and bankers. But the rest 40% cannot be verified of their occupation.