"Neighbors, What Enemies?" Interfloor Noise Conflicts, Is There No Solution?

A Total of 106,967 Nationwide Interfloor Noise Complaints Received from 2015 to 2019
Retaliation Over Interfloor Noise Leads to Legal Disputes
Experts Advise Mutual Consideration Over Emotional Responses to Interfloor Noise Incidents

Recently, disputes over noise between floors have been increasing every year, but there are no effective measures in place, making it a social issue.
Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Suwan] "I don't even want to call them neighbors.", "I'm dying because of the noise between floors."

Although disputes over noise between floors are increasing every year, there are no effective measures, and conflicts among residents are growing. As a result, some apartments periodically broadcast announcements related to noise between floors.

In addition, notices asking for restraint regarding noise between floors are sometimes posted on apartment bulletin boards. Nevertheless, when noise continues, it can lead to crimes such as assault.

In July 2017, a murder occurred in an apartment in Nowon-gu, Seoul, due to noise between floors. The perpetrator stated to the police, "I complained to the upstairs neighbors and asked the management office for help, but the noise (between floors) was not resolved, and I continuously heard pounding sounds."

Earlier, in July 2016, in a 23-story apartment in Hanam, Gyeonggi Province, a man in his 30s living downstairs attacked an elderly couple upstairs with a weapon, resulting in the wife’s death.

Also, in January of this year, in an apartment in Nam-gu, Gwangju, residents were booked without detention on charges of assault after exchanging punches over noise disputes between floors.

Recently, there are concerns that disputes over noise between floors have increased as people refrain from going out and spend more time at home due to the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

Citizens involved in noise conflicts complain, "I feel like I'm going neurotic because of the noise from upstairs." Office worker A (29) said, "Because of the noise between floors, I hate being inside the house. I woke up dozens of times at night due to the sound of the kids upstairs running."

Job seeker B in their 20s said, "I have no choice but to stay home, so I can't do anything about it," adding, "I feel like dying from the noise, such as the upstairs neighbors walking heavily on their heels or dragging chairs and furniture around."

Meanwhile, complaints about noise between floors are continuously increasing. According to data on 'Noise Between Floors Complaints' submitted by the Korea Environment Corporation to Kim Cheolmin, a member of the National Assembly Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee from the Democratic Party of Korea, a total of 106,967 complaints nationwide were received over the past five years (2015?2019).

The number of complaints received by the Ministry of Environment-affiliated 'Noise Between Floors Neighbor Center' also increased from 8,795 cases in 2012 to 28,231 cases in 2018.

Citizens suffering from noise between floors are expressing, "I feel like I'm going neurotic because of the noise from the upstairs neighbor." Photo by Asia Economy DB

Various posts titled methods to resolve noise between floors or revenge methods are posted on online communities.

In particular, searching for 'noise between floors revenge' on internet portal sites reveals revenge methods such as using woofer speakers or rubber hammers against noise.

For example, installing a woofer speaker on the ceiling to transmit noise and vibrations to the upstairs neighbors. However, retaliating against upstairs noise can lead to criminal punishment.

In November last year, a man in his 50s in an apartment in Seo-gu, Daejeon, was sentenced to prison for kicking the neighbor’s front door due to noise between floors issues.

As these problems persist, the National Noise Information System has opened and operates a Noise Between Floors Dispute Mediation Center.

The Noise Between Floors Neighbor Center provides on-site consultation and noise measurement services under the mediation of the apartment management entity to induce understanding and resolve disputes among residents regarding received complaints.

When using the Noise Between Floors Neighbor Center, the first stage (mainly phone consultation, non-face-to-face) offers services such as △phone consultation △visit consultation application △additional phone consultation, and the second stage (visit consultation and noise measurement, face-to-face) includes △visit consultation △noise measurement services.

Additionally, as a third-stage resolution method, services such as the Environmental Dispute Mediation Committee, Central Apartment Management Dispute Mediation Committee, and Seoul City Noise Between Floors Counseling Office can be utilized.

However, even with these mediation management standards, conflict resolution is not easy. Noise between floors is often intermittent and irregular, making it difficult to prove the noise.

Experts advise that mutual consideration is necessary rather than emotional responses when noise between floors occurs. A Korea Environment Corporation official said, "Many complaints related to noise between floors are received," emphasizing, "The best is for neighbors to be considerate and careful."

A Seoul City Housing and Architecture Headquarters official said, "When noise between floors issues arise, it is necessary to refrain from emotional confrontations such as direct complaints or retaliatory noise and to respond calmly with mutual consideration among neighbors," adding, "Resolving through a third-party mediator such as the apartment management office or Seoul City Noise Between Floors Counseling Office is also one method."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.