Interfloor Noise More Distressing in Winter... Retaliation Leads to Punishment

Increase in Complaints as Indoor Activities Rise
More Sharing of Multiple Methods Online
Speaker Installation Violates Misdemeanor Laws
Compromise Must Be Reached Through Mediation Body

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Jung-yoon] Inter-floor noise has become a daily issue in apartment complexes and other multi-family housing. As stress from inter-floor noise increases and conflict resolution becomes difficult, even methods of revenge against inter-floor noise have emerged. However, such revenge can easily become a crime and only deepen the rift between neighbors. Ultimately, it is pointed out that dialogue and compromise must be achieved for a fundamental solution.

Inter-floor noise refers to sounds generated by the activities of residents in multi-family housing that cause disturbance to other residents. Related complaints number about 20,000 annually. From January to September last year, the 'Inter-floor Noise Neighbor Center' operated by the Korea Environment Corporation received about 18,000 complaints regarding inter-floor noise. Inter-floor noise occurs more frequently in winter, when indoor activities increase compared to other seasons. An analysis of 3,403 inter-floor noise consultation complaints in Seoul from April 2014 to December 2018 showed that an average of about 75 complaints were received monthly from December to March. In contrast, the average number of complaints from June to September was about 45. Among complainants, 74% lived on the lower floor, while 19% lived on the upper floor.

Online communities of inter-floor noise victims have even introduced methods of revenge against noise offenders. Most of these are lower-floor residents responding to noise coming from upper floors. Methods range from tapping the ceiling above with a rubber mallet to installing speakers. Netizens who have tried these methods actively exchange information, adding detailed techniques that produce greater effects. Among about 1,000 reviews on speaker shopping sites commonly used for retaliation, a significant number mentioned that "(using this product) inter-floor noise was reduced."

However, using speakers to retaliate can lead to criminal punishment. In February last year, Mr. A, living in an apartment in Cheongju, Chungbuk, was fined 100,000 won for violating the Minor Offenses Act after installing speakers to play sounds such as washing machines and crying children in retaliation for upper-floor noise.

Experts emphasize that responding to inter-floor noise with "an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth" only deepens conflicts between neighbors. In November last year, a man in his 40s in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, wielded a weapon against a neighbor due to inter-floor noise and then jumped to his death after the incident. Professor Song Jae-ryong of Kyung Hee University's Department of Sociology said, "Through mediation bodies involving residents of multi-family housing, dialogue and concessions should be encouraged to reduce inter-floor noise without escalating conflicts."