[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Jin-hyung] Hwang Do-young, a member of the Nam-gu Council in Gwangju Metropolitan City, is playing the role of a 'complaint resolver' regarding motorcycle noise.
At the September extraordinary session, Councilor Hwang proposed in a 5-minute free speech, “Nam-gu must actively respond to the loud noise problem caused by the increased number of delivery motorcycles in the city due to the impact of COVID-19,” and suggested, “We should actively promote the project to conduct frequent crackdowns on illegal modifications of two-wheelers and to replace and support electric motorcycles that have no engine noise.”
In response, the executive branch conducted a joint crackdown and guidance on two-wheeler noise in September around Baegun Intersection in cooperation with the Nambu Police Station and the Korea Transportation Safety Authority.
They also plan to continuously conduct joint crackdowns with related organizations and impose fines if noise standards are violated.
According to the Noise and Vibration Control Act, exhaust noise exceeding 105 decibels and horn noise exceeding 110 decibels are subject to fines ranging from 200,000 to 1,000,000 KRW. A noise level of 105 decibels is similar to the noise when a train passes by. Therefore, there are growing calls to lower the standard.
Additionally, Nam-gu plans to actively promote and encourage the use of the project that replaces and supports motorcycles with electric motorcycles that have no engine noise.
The electric two-wheeler purchase subsidy project is promoted by Gwangju City. Subsidies range from 1.2 to 1.5 million KRW for general light motorcycles, 2.14 to 2.6 million KRW for small motorcycles, and 2.8 to 3.3 million KRW for large motorcycles.
There are two locations in Nam-gu where electric two-wheelers can be charged: at the entrance of Hyodeok Elementary School and opposite Emart in Bongseon-dong. Ten more locations are planned to be added by December this year.
Meanwhile, according to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport’s ‘Vehicle Registration Status Report,’ the number of registered two-wheelers in Gwangju as of August this year is 41,526. This is an increase of 1,640 from 39,886 in January last year, when the first COVID-19 case was confirmed.
The number of noise-related complaints about two-wheelers received in Nam-gu as of the end of September this year is 17 cases: 5 by phone and 12 through the National Petition System.
Councilor Hwang said, “As the number of delivery motorcycles passing through late at night increases, more residents are complaining about noise discomfort,” and added, “I will take the lead in making the urban environment comfortable from noise by advocating for the revision of the Noise and Vibration Control Act to keep pace with changing times.”
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