"Stop it! I've had enough" ... Pohang City says Ministry of National Defense must take responsibility for helicopter and tank noise affecting residents

Joint Civil-Military-Government Measurement Shows Noise Levels Over 20dB Higher Than Usual, Confirming Resident Harm

Mayor Lee Gang-deok Urges Proactive Measures for Residents Who Have Endured for the Nation Over Many Years

Pohang City, Gyeongbuk held a residents' briefing session regarding the noise measurement results of the Suseong Shooting Range.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yong-woo] Pohang City, Gyeongbuk, urged the military authorities to actively address the inconvenience suffered by residents due to noise from the Suseong Shooting Range.

Regarding the noise measurement of the Suseong Shooting Range in Janggi-myeon conducted by the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission, Pohang City claimed that since the noise has been objectively proven to cause harm to residents, the military must directly take action to resolve the issue.

Earlier, on the 8th, the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission held a residents' briefing session on the noise measurement results of the Pohang Suseong Shooting Range at the Janggi-myeon Administrative Welfare Center.

From June 3 to July 9, over 27 days, a joint measurement was conducted by civilian, government, and military personnel simultaneously at six locations near the shooting range in Janggi-myeon by three measurement agencies. Subsequently, the noise measurement results of the US Forces Korea Apache helicopters and Marine Corps ground weapons were announced.

The average noise level on shooting days was found to be up to 23.7 dB higher than on non-shooting days, and the peak instantaneous noise reached 107 dB at the Suseong-ri village hall.

On days when US Forces Korea Apache helicopter firing occurred, the average noise was 62.5 dB, compared to 41.6 dB on days without firing, showing a maximum difference of over 23.7 dB.

The Marine Corps tank maneuvers recorded the highest peak noise at 107 dB, the US Forces Korea Apache helicopter noise was measured at a maximum of 85.2 dB, and Marine Corps ground weapons recorded a peak of 85.1 dB.

According to a professional company, an average noise difference of more than 10 dB causes damage and inconvenience due to noise.

The noise measured during shooting training was more than 20 dB higher than usual, objectively proving the long-term suffering and damage caused by noise.

Regarding the degree of noise experienced in daily life and its effects on the human body, 80 dB corresponds to the sound of cicadas on city streets or piano music inside a subway, where hearing loss begins; 90 dB corresponds to shouting or passing trucks and is known to cause hearing impairment.

The measurement figures announced that day were accepted by the affected residents, the Ministry of National Defense, and the Marine Corps.

The Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission requested related agencies, the Ministry of National Defense, and the military to establish fundamental measures to alleviate residents' damage and inconvenience in the future.

Mayor Lee Kang-deok of Pohang said, “The damage suffered by residents who have silently endured the noise of shooting training for national security over many years has been objectively proven through this noise measurement,” and urged, “Since the results show noise levels that interfere with daily life, the military authorities should consider the residents' position and prepare measures with a progressive and proactive attitude.”

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