Interfloor Noise Complaint Reversal... "No One Was Home at That Time"

Let's Confirm That No One Was There, Complaints Decrease
Recently, a Stabbing Incident Occurred Over Noise Between Floors

Recently, amid another stabbing incident over apartment noise complaints, netizens have reacted to a story about a woman who resolved a noise complaint issue. On the 24th, a post titled "Finally resolved the downstairs neighbor's noise complaint..." was uploaded to an online community. The author, A, who lives in an apartment built about 10 years ago, said, "Both my friend and I have only lived in apartments, so we are very careful not to make loud thumping noises," adding, "We don't exercise or do anything noisy at home... We basically avoid making loud noises in the house."

Recently, as incidents involving knife attacks over apartment noise complaints have emerged, becoming a serious social issue, netizens are reacting to a story about a woman who resolved a noise complaint. On the 24th, a post titled "Finally resolved the downstairs neighbor's noise complaint..." was uploaded to an online community.
Photo by Seo Dong-min, Asia Economy

A continued, "The problem was that the downstairs neighbors frequently stuck Post-it notes or contacted the security office to complain about noise. Even when my friend and I were taking a nap on the weekend, the security office called through the intercom," and "One evening, while we were watching TV on the sofa, we received an intercom call saying we were making thumping noises," revealing the distress caused by the ongoing noise complaints.

She added, "Since this continued, I got stressed out and told a friendly security guard, whom we usually greeted and chatted with, that if the downstairs neighbors complained again while we were on summer vacation, he could just say no one was home," and "I even gave him the door password so he could open the door if needed, and we went on a week-long trip." After returning, A said, "I gave the security guard a gift and asked about the situation. He told me that while we were away, he received two calls about noise from upstairs, and he personally took the downstairs neighbors to check the empty apartment," adding, "Hearing that was so satisfying."

Finally, she said, "Since then, the downstairs neighbors haven't made any complaints to us... Anyway, they must have heard some noise, but I wonder what that noise was... I'm curious," concluding, "When living in an apartment, it's important to have a well-built home and also to have good neighbors upstairs and downstairs."

One netizen who saw the post commented, "The noise in the house I used to live in was diagonal," "If the upstairs neighbors are really quiet, the noise heard downstairs might be from the upstairs neighbors or even from the downstairs neighbors themselves," and "In corridor-style apartments, noise from the side neighbors can be mistaken as noise from upstairs." Another netizen wrote, "We really need to get rid of the prejudice that the upstairs neighbors are always the culprits of noise complaints. I have suffered from noise from upstairs neighbors in an apartment, and although I didn't move because of it, I now live on the top floor with no neighbors above me, yet I still hear thumping noises from the ceiling and knocking sounds from the walls."

Meanwhile, as the issue of noise between floors became socially serious, on the 12th, the Seoul Metropolitan Government announced that it would revise and implement the "18th Seoul Metropolitan Government Standard Rules for Apartment Management." With the mandatory formation of noise management committees in apartment complexes with more than 500 households, Seoul has established detailed standards regarding the committee's composition, roles, and dispute resolution procedures.
[Photo by Asia Economy]

Meanwhile, as the issue of apartment noise has become a social problem, on the 12th, the Seoul Metropolitan Government announced the revision and implementation of the '18th Seoul City Apartment Management Regulations.' With the mandatory formation of noise management committees in apartment complexes with more than 500 households, Seoul has established detailed standards for the committee's composition, roles, and dispute resolution procedures.

First, with the amendment of the Apartment Management Act, apartment complexes with over 500 households are required to form a noise management committee as a resident-led body to mediate noise disputes. The regulations clarify the qualifications, terms, and training of committee members, as well as dispute resolution procedures and budget expenditures related to committee operations. The noise management committee must consist of at least three members, with a two-year term and eligibility for reappointment. Other formation procedures and methods are determined by the residents' representative meeting or regulations. The new regulations also strengthen fire door management to prevent fire spread and reduce casualties from apartment fires. Fire inspection results conducted semiannually must be posted on the integrated information platform, and if there are any fire door-related issues, the management entity's fire door inspection records must be posted as well.