Gwangju Seo-gu to Pay Military Noise Damage Compensation Next Year

Published 14 Jul.2021 10:19(KST)

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Shin Dong-ho] Seo-gu, Gwangju Metropolitan City (Mayor Seo Dae-seok) is doing its best to prepare in advance for the enforcement of the Act on Prevention of Noise and Compensation for Damage caused by Military Airfields and Military Shooting Ranges (hereinafter referred to as the Military Noise Compensation Act).

On the 14th, Seo-gu announced that it is actively promoting related tasks such as guiding the damage compensation application procedures for residents in the affected areas to ensure that the application and payment of military noise damage compensation proceed smoothly.

According to the Noise Compensation Act, which was enforced in November last year, from next year, residents in the affected areas can receive noise damage compensation without directly participating in lawsuits.

The Ministry of National Defense is currently conducting a "Noise Impact Survey" to designate noise control areas based on the Military Noise Compensation Act, and using data such as fighter training status and aircraft operation data as a basis, noise measurement results will be reflected to draw noise impact maps in the form of contour lines.

The noise control areas are classified based on the aircraft noise evaluation unit WECPNL: Class 1 for 95 or above, Class 2 for 90 or above but below 95, and Class 3 for 85 or above but below 90. Compensation ranging from 30,000 to 60,000 KRW per month will be paid according to the classification.

Seo-gu selected nine measurement points after collecting opinions from residents of Chipyeong, Yudeok, and Seochang-dong, where noise damage is particularly severe, and completed the second noise measurement last May following the first measurement in November last year.

Together with the service company selected by the Ministry of National Defense, Seo-gu held residents’ briefings and allowed residents to attend noise measurements, providing information about noise measurement and noise impact surveys and collecting residents’ opinions on compensation standards.

The military noise damage compensation standards are somewhat conservatively applied compared to civilian aviation compensation standards, causing ongoing opposition from residents since the law was enacted due to fairness concerns.

Accordingly, Seo-gu plans to continuously request the Ministry of National Defense to amend the law to apply compensation standards similar to those of civilian aviation, simplify the complex reduction criteria, and allow the boundaries of noise contour lines to be based on terrain or landmarks rather than buildings.

The Ministry of National Defense plans to designate and announce noise control areas in the second half of this year, and residents within these areas can receive compensation by applying to the district office without separate lawsuits.

Applications for compensation are expected to begin around January next year, and compensation payments are anticipated to be made around August next year after a review process.

A Seo-gu official said, “We will thoroughly prepare to ensure there are no issues with the compensation payment tasks starting next year, and we will also strive to minimize residents’ damage and expand the scope of compensation recipients through continuous demands for legal amendments.”