Shinsegae Construction Building Apartments Across Daegu... Arbitrary Installation Standards for Noise Meters

Noise Complaints from Residents: Construction Sites Are 'Mobile' vs. Complaint-Free Sites Are 'Permanent'
Despite Two Administrative Actions from the District Office, Complaint Sites Insist on Being 'Mobile'

The upper photo shows a site in Suseong-gu, a habitual complaint construction site without a noise meter installed. The lower photo shows the entrance of construction sites in Jung-gu and Dalseo-gu, where 'permanent' meters are properly installed. [Provided by reader]

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Dong-guk] A major construction company carrying out large-scale apartment projects throughout downtown Daegu is aggravating residents' distrust by continuing construction at a specific site without installing a 'permanent noise monitor,' despite repeated administrative actions from the local district office.

This construction company has installed 'noise monitors' permanently at other construction sites except for the one where noise complaints due to foundational work have caused grievances among nearby residents, drawing criticism for a 'turning a blind eye' approach.

On the 17th, no noise monitors could be found at the main entrances of the Shinsegae Construction Villiv Heritage apartment complex construction site located in Suseong 4-ga, Suseong-gu, Daegu.

However, as residents' protests intensified recently, the construction site quietly installed a noise monitor in only one location. The installation site is on the main road side, not at the entrance facing the residential area.

Typically, large-scale apartment construction companies attach noise monitors at various entrances along with sound barriers to prevent noise conflicts with nearby residents in advance, but here, they insist on using only handheld noise monitors that employees use as needed.

This site has been a habitual complaint area where protests demanding measures against dust and noise have continued for over six months since construction began in February. Residents of Suseong Daerim e-Pyeonhansesang apartments and nearby houses are suffering, reporting cracked walls in their shops and depression caused by stress.

Although the Suseong District Office, responsible for the area, conducted noise measurements on-site following complaints and found levels exceeding 65db (decibels), resulting in two administrative sanctions, the company has been evading the situation by using only handheld noise monitors when necessary.

Unlike the Suseong-gu construction site, Shinsegae Construction is showing sincerity by installing noise monitors at every entrance of the 'Villiv Premier' and 'Classe' construction sites in Jung-gu and Dalseo-gu.

The construction company stated, "We have been continuously managing noise around the site since the beginning of construction," and added, "If the local authorities request permanent noise monitors, we are prepared to install them at any time."

Since first launching 'The House Beomeo' in the school district center of Suseong-gu in Daegu and Gyeongbuk in 2016, Shinsegae Construction has been consecutively building large-scale apartment complexes annually under various brands.