Government and Ruling Party Agree on Military Noise Control Areas... 7,700 Residents to Receive Compensation

Eight New Areas Designated,
Compensation Scope Expanded for 69 Existing Areas

The government and the ruling party have newly designated eight noise control areas to compensate residents living near military airfields, firing ranges, and training grounds, and have decided to expand the compensation scope for the existing 69 areas. As a result of this measure, approximately 7,700 residents in adjacent areas are expected to receive compensation.

The Democratic Party of Korea and the Ministry of National Defense announced on the morning of January 20 at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, that they have finalized the "Second Basic Plan for Noise Prevention and Compensation in Military Noise Control Areas" at a policy consultation meeting on military noise damage countermeasures.

Yonhap News Agency

Accordingly, the Ministry of National Defense plans to newly designate and officially announce eight military firing ranges as noise control areas based on a noise impact assessment. The areas to be designated and announced include the Meoreuni Firing Range in Paju, the Machajin Firing Range in Goseong County, and the Taepung Science Training Center in Yeoncheon County, among others. In total, approximately 770 residents in the 48.3 square kilometers of new noise control areas will be eligible for compensation. In addition, the Ministry plans to expand the designation of 69 existing noise control areas by applying the revised "Enforcement Decree of the Military Noise Compensation Act." As a result, it is expected that the noise control areas will be expanded by about 5.3 square kilometers, and approximately 6,900 additional residents will newly become eligible for compensation.

The government and the ruling party also agreed to continue reviewing ways to establish compensation standards that reflect changing real-world conditions. Assemblyman Boo Seungchan told reporters, "We attempted to raise the compensation amount, but there has been no change due to insufficient cooperation from the fiscal authorities."

Lee Doohee, Vice Minister of National Defense, stated, "This basic plan will set the direction for future military noise management policies and serve as a foundation for establishing a more rational compensation system for affected residents. We will faithfully incorporate the opinions presented in today's discussion to ensure that security and the quality of life for citizens are balanced, and to establish a solid institutional foundation for addressing military noise issues."