‘Interfloor Noise’ Leading to Murder... Dispute Mediation Increased by 27% Last Year

Consecutive Interfloor Noise Tragedies
Central Dispute Mediation Committee Mediation Cases
31 Cases Last Year... 27% Increase Compared to Previous Year

[Asia Economy Reporter Koo Chae-eun] Amid a series of tragedies involving inter-floor noise disputes, including violent assaults with weapons and homicide injuries, the number of inter-floor noise dispute mediation applications for apartment complexes transferred to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's Central Dispute Mediation Committee due to unresolved issues at local offices increased by 24% last year.

On the 11th, Kim Eun-hye, a member of the National Assembly Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee from the People Power Party, reported that the number of inter-floor noise dispute mediation applications submitted to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's Central Apartment Management Dispute Mediation Committee (Jungbunwi) totaled 19 cases as of September this year. Last year, when COVID-19 became widespread, there were 31 cases, a 24% increase compared to the previous year (2019, 25 cases). In 2018, there were only 6 cases.

Inter-floor noise disputes received by the Central Dispute Mediation Committee are cases transferred from 228 local dispute mediation committees nationwide where mediation was not successful.

(Source: Eunhye Kim, People Power Party, Central Apartment Management Dispute Mediation Committee)

In fact, on the 27th of last month, a tragedy occurred in an apartment in Yeosu, Jeollanam-do, where two people died and two were injured after an upper-floor resident wielded a weapon due to inter-floor noise. There have also been incidents where neighbors came wielding hand axes or committed indiscriminate assaults over inter-floor noise.

Experts have diagnosed the need to introduce inter-floor noise prevention systems, reflecting the reality that outdoor activities have decreased due to COVID-19 and that 60% of the population lives in apartment complexes or other multi-family housing.

Professor Seo Jin-hyung of Gyeongin Women's University (President of the Korean Real Estate Society) said, "Since South Korea's construction technology has improved, we should move toward mandating inter-floor noise prevention systems," adding, "Improvements in income standards should be considered alongside improvements in residential environments." Professor Shim Kyo-eon of Konkuk University's Department of Real Estate said, "Inter-floor noise disputes in apartment complexes are not unique to overseas either," and added, "Management and improvements are necessary to effectively resolve conflicts that may arise in apartment complexes."

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