Apartment with Announcement About "Neighbor Disturbed by Samgyeopsal Smell"

Disputes Arise Over Apartment Etiquette... "What's Wrong with Eating in My Own Home?" vs "It Can Be Sensitive, Consideration Needed"

Samgyeopsal. Photo by Asia Economy DB

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Soyoung] A story has been shared about an announcement asking residents to "refrain from grilling Samgyeopsal" after someone was grilling Samgyeopsal in their apartment, sparking controversy. The etiquette issues in multi-family housing, such as noise between floors and smoking, have now extended to food odors. Opinions are divided between those who see this as excessive interference and those who believe it is necessary to observe such rules when ventilation between units is inadequate.

On the 12th, a post titled "There was just an announcement asking to refrain from grilling Samgyeopsal" was uploaded on an online community.

The author wrote, "While preparing dinner and doing the dishes, an announcement came on saying, 'Due to complaints from neighbors about the smell of Samgyeopsal being grilled in O-dong O-line, please refrain from doing so,'" and added, "I honestly can't believe this."

He continued, "Are we not allowed to grill Samgyeopsal in apartments now? The person who complained is ridiculous, and the management office that couldn't handle it internally and made an announcement is just a comedy," expressing his disbelief.

He also said, "I don't grill fish, but sometimes the smell comes through the ventilation ducts," and added, "Isn't it normal to just think, 'Someone must be eating,' and let it go?"

He sarcastically remarked, "Maybe I'll complain next time. Then will there be an announcement saying, 'Please refrain from grilling mackerel'?"

Public reactions are mixed. While an apartment is a private space for individuals, it is also a multi-family housing complex where many people live together, reflecting its unique characteristics.

Most netizens responded strongly with comments like, "An apartment is a multi-family housing. If you want to interfere with other households' meals, you should move to a detached house," "If you don't like the temple, the monk should leave," "When I smell food from a neighbor's house, I just think, 'Oh, that smells delicious.' Things are getting harsher," "If you boil Cheonggukjang, will they tell you to move out?" "If this much intrusion into personal privacy is allowed, it's basically a detention center," and "Now we can't even eat comfortably."

On the other hand, some said, "Not just Samgyeopsal, but after I eat, the smell of kimchi stew, grilled fish, and other foods is really unpleasant. Consideration is needed," "If you grill quickly on high heat, the smell is indeed strong. It might be a sensitive issue during seasons when windows are open," and "Samgyeopsal is cute compared to the smell of jang stew or grilled croaker, which is really bad."