Apartment Residents File Complaints to Fire Station About Loud Siren Noise

Suwon Iui 119 Safety Center Opens, Residents Divided
"Most Say 'We Must Understand'," but Some Express "Pain"

It has sparked controversy after it was revealed that a resident in an apartment complex in Suwon filed a complaint with a nearby fire station about the “loud sirens.”

On the 10th, a heated debate took place on an online community in the Suwon area regarding a complaint filed by residents of an apartment complex located in Gwanggyo, requesting the nearby fire station to reduce siren noise.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Earlier, on May 25, the Suwon Fire Station’s Iui 119 Safety Center opened near Gwanggyo Jungang Station on the Shinbundang Line. However, residents of nearby apartments reportedly requested measures to reduce the noise, saying the sirens sounded too loud when fire trucks were dispatched.

One local resident shared, “The other night, when the fire truck was dispatched, they turned off the siren,” adding, “I thought it was because people have been keeping their windows open these days, but I didn’t realize there was this reason.”

In fact, the residents’ representative council of Apartment A near the Iui 119 Safety Center reportedly visited the center on the 28th of last month to demand noise reduction measures. They classified the dispatch sirens as noise pollution and requested action.

The residents’ representative council also stated on the 17th of last month that they planned to “express the unfairness of installing a nuisance facility and hold a collective protest.”

In response, the Suwon Fire Station rebutted, saying, “When responding to disaster scenes where the ‘golden time’ is critical, it is standard for fire trucks and ambulances to run with sirens on.”

As this information became known, debates ensued in the local community. The majority opinion was that since the fire station is a facility for public safety, the siren noise should be understood.

One resident said, “I also lived near a fire station, and the noise was not bothersome enough to be a concern,” adding, “We should be grateful for what is right in front of us. When a serious incident happens, it is handled immediately, and we benefit greatly from that.”

Another resident wrote, “It reminds me of the recent doctor helicopter incident,” and added, “Although complaints about sirens may be from a minority, it is a shameful matter.”

On the other hand, some residents expressed that “the siren noise, regardless of weekdays or weekends, is a hardship for nearby residents.” One resident countered, “It’s not about demanding the sirens be turned off unconditionally, but there was reportedly some discussion about possible adjustments,” adding, “There is a difference in perspectives.”

In this situation, a crew member of the Iui 119 Safety Center told Korea Economic Daily on the 9th, “It feels demoralizing when residents insult us despite our dedication to rescuing people in crisis every day,” and added, “We are now considering how to respond to emergencies in the future.”

Meanwhile, the Ajou University Hospital Regional Trauma Center has also experienced difficulties due to complaints from nearby apartments about noise from doctor helicopters.

In 2018, Lee Guk-jong, then a trauma surgery professor, shared that a doctor helicopter crew member showed him a text message saying, “There are continuous complaints from the apartment right in front of the hospital, so please be cautious,” and said, “Every day feels like hell.”