Last Year, 46,500 Interfloor Noise Complaints Reported
Neighbors Used Speakers and Rubber Hammers for Retaliation
Ministry of Land Announces 'Interfloor Noise Improvement Measures'
Effectiveness Questioned Due to Lack of Enforcement
As conflicts caused by noise between floors escalate into serious crimes, emerging as a chronic social issue, the government has also stepped up to devise countermeasures.
[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyun-joo] The government has announced measures to improve noise between floors in multi-family housing and is taking steps to address the issue. This comes as many citizens suffer from noise between floors, and conflicts between neighbors have sometimes escalated into violent crimes.
As the number of residents in apartments and other multi-family housing increases, conflicts over noise between floors have emerged as a social problem. Especially with more time spent indoors due to COVID-19, complaints about noise between floors have also increased. According to the Korea Environment Corporation, complaints about noise between floors were 26,200 in 2019 before the COVID-19 pandemic, but surged to 42,200 in 2020 and 46,500 last year.
The rift between neighbors has deepened in many cases. On online communities, "retaliation methods" using speakers or hammers are being shared to get back at neighbors. These include instructions to intentionally cause noise by installing woofer speakers in bathroom vents or to retaliate by tapping the ceiling with rubber hammers. However, such actions may be punishable under stalking laws, so caution is advised.
Conflicts over noise between floors frequently escalate into serious crimes. A pastor in his 60s who assaulted a pregnant neighbor involved in a noise dispute was fined by the court on the 11th. At the time of the incident, the victim was seven months pregnant. In June, a man in his 50s in Uijeongbu, Gyeonggi Province, was booked by police on charges including special threats, property damage, and obstruction of official duties after causing a disturbance and assaulting neighbors over noise complaints. He unlawfully entered the neighbor’s home, swung a baseball bat destroying a TV and other items, and punched the neighbor’s face. Intoxicated, he also assaulted police officers who responded to the call.
As the seriousness of noise conflicts between floors grows, the government has stepped up efforts. On the 18th, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) announced the "Measures to Improve Noise Between Floors in Multi-family Housing." This is part of the "National Housing Stability Realization Plan" announced on the 16th.
According to the plan, for existing housing, measures include ▲support for installing noise reduction mats for low-income households ▲mandatory establishment of noise management committees ▲selection of excellent noise management complexes to spread best practices. For future housing, measures include ▲disclosure of noise performance inspection results ▲strengthening construction quality inspections ▲promotion of noise reduction technology development to improve noise issues between floors.
Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Won Hee-ryong is holding a meeting on inter-floor noise with residents at an LH housing complex in Jungnang-gu, Seoul on the 18th. [Image source=Yonhap News]
However, there are criticisms that these are merely "temporary fixes." Support for installing noise reduction mats is not a fundamental solution to noise problems, and there is no measure to compel construction companies to reduce noise generation, which undermines effectiveness. Also, the plan to resolve disputes autonomously through noise management committees is unclear in how it differs from the current practice where building managers intervene to recommend stopping noise.
On the day of the noise between floors meeting, MOLIT Minister Won Hee-ryong said, "I deeply empathize with the public’s suffering from noise between floors," and promised, "We will firmly alleviate worries about noise between floors through comprehensive support and efforts so that people can sleep comfortably at home without feeling self-conscious."
MOLIT stated, "To ensure the smooth implementation of the measures announced today, including support for installing noise reduction mats, mandatory establishment of noise management committees, disclosure of post-inspection results, incentives for excellent noise management companies, and development of excellent technologies, we will promptly begin follow-up actions such as legal revisions and securing budgets."
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