Noise from the Upstairs and Now the Neighbor Next Door... 'Wall Noise' Becomes This Year's Apartment Keyword

Analysis of Apartment Reviews by Zigbang and Hogangnono
Expressing Interest in Living Environment Such as Noise and Flood Prevention
Relaxation of Safety Inspections in the First Half
Issue of Sale Prices in the Second Half

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Min-young] The three keywords mentioned more frequently this year in apartment reviews on Zigbang and Hogangnono compared to previous years were 'wall noise,' 'safety inspection,' and 'pre-sale price.' Following inter-floor noise, which emerged as a social issue after COVID-19, wall noise has become a concern for apartment residents, and safety inspections have been consistently mentioned due to expectations of regulatory easing by the new government. The pre-sale price was frequently mentioned in the fourth quarter, which is interpreted as a sensitive reaction to the scheduled pre-sale prices amid the housing market downturn.

On the 26th, Zigbang analyzed nationwide apartment complex reviews written by users of the Zigbang Hogangnono application from January to December 16, 2018. Compared to previous years (2018?2021), the keyword that was notably more mentioned this year was wall noise. Wall noise recorded a mention rate 3.76 times higher in 2022 than the average of previous years. Unlike inter-floor noise, wall noise refers to noise coming from neighboring units on the same floor in multi-family housing. The top keyword mentioned alongside wall noise was inter-floor noise; many reviews that pointed out inter-floor noise when evaluating apartment living conditions also mentioned wall noise. Following these were △safety inspection (2.82 times), △pre-sale price (2.82 times), △flood disaster (2.78 times), and △foot hammer (2.59 times).

The keyword safety inspection saw a high mention rate in the first quarter of this year, when the 20th presidential election took place. This is interpreted as influenced by policies proposed by President Yoon Seok-yeol during his candidacy, such as exemption from detailed safety inspections for apartments older than 30 years, and the post-election announcement of eased safety inspection regulations for reconstruction. The related keyword with the highest proportion was reconstruction. Actual reviews frequently mentioned expectations for reconstruction possibilities related to the new government's easing and exemption of safety inspections. Reviews mentioning safety inspection often cited the new government's reconstruction easing policies and expressed future reconstruction expectations, but the mention rate declined later due to a drop in reconstruction sentiment amid the market downturn.

The keyword pre-sale price recorded a mention rate of about 1?2% until last year but has steadily increased this year, reaching a high mention rate of 5.5% in the fourth quarter. This is interpreted as app users reacting more sensitively to the pre-sale prices of scheduled subscription complexes as the apartment market enters a price decline phase. Supporting this interpretation is the fact that the second most common related keyword is 'expensive.'

The keyword flood disaster was not highly mentioned until last year. However, this summer, heavy rains across the nation, including the Seoul metropolitan area, caused flooding in low-lying areas such as around Gangnam Station and incidents like the death of a family living in a semi-basement house, increasing interest in flood prevention and drainage management. Actual reviews often emphasized that the apartment is located on high ground with no flood risk or highlighted well-managed facilities such as parking lots and elevators.

A Zigbang official explained, "The major keywords in the 2022 apartment market reflect interest in favorable living environments and issues in the reconstruction and subscription markets throughout the year," adding, "The safety inspection keyword, which recorded a high mention rate in the first quarter and then declined, and the pre-sale price keyword, which reached its highest level in the fourth quarter, succinctly represent the 2022 situation: expectations for real estate easing policies following the new government's inauguration in the first half and the housing market downturn that intensified in the second half."