Yangju City in Gyeonggi Province announced on August 19 that it had paid a total of 62.6 million won in compensation to 348 residents affected by military noise.
This payment was made in accordance with the “Act on the Prevention of Noise from Military Airfields and Firing Ranges and Compensation for Damages,” which took effect on November 27, 2020. Eligible recipients were residents who had their official address and lived near the Noyasan Firing Range and Ganap-ri Airfield from the enforcement date of the law until last year. The compensation amount was determined by the Noise Countermeasure Review Committee based on the level of noise, length of residence, timing of relocation, and the location of workplaces or business establishments.
Since January, Yangju City has been accepting applications for military noise compensation and conducting the selection process. After an objection period, the compensation payments were completed on August 7.
Meanwhile, a noise impact survey is currently underway at Meoreuni Artillery Range, located near Hyochon-ri in Gwangjeok-myeon, which is scheduled to be designated as a noise countermeasure area in 2026. The Noyasan Firing Range, Yangju Airfield, and Mugeon-ri Training Ground, which were designated as noise countermeasure areas in 2021, will have their noise impact remeasured as the five-year reassessment cycle approaches.
Yangju City has been working to provide realistic compensation for residents affected by military noise near firing ranges and airfields. Efforts include submitting proposals to the Ministry of National Defense to expand the scope of compensation and relax the criteria for reducing compensation amounts. The city plans to continue these efforts in the future.
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