Why Was the ‘Airport Noise Control Zone’ Expanded in Yangcheon-gu?

District Mayor Lee Gijae’s Proactive Response Results Including Visit to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and Invitation of the Minister for a Roundtable Meeting

Achieved Major Success in ‘Expansion of Airport Noise Countermeasure Areas’

Yangcheon-gu Airport Noise Countermeasure Area Expanded by 70㎡, Support Target Increased by 455 Households from 39,575 to 40,030

Will Continue Ongoing Discussions on Residents’ Demands Such as Reduction of Late-Night Flight Hours and Relaxation of Altitude Restrictions

Lee Gijae, Yangcheon District Mayor

The aircraft noise issue at Gimpo Airport, one of Yangcheon-gu’s representative long-standing challenges, has been a persistent problem in the area. Common sense might suggest that the noise damage would be greatest in Gangseo-gu, where the airport is located, but in reality, 65% of the Gimpo Airport noise-affected area residents are Yangcheon-gu citizens, accounting for one-quarter of all households in Yangcheon-gu. Nationally, Yangcheon-gu is significantly concentrated, comprising 57.4% of all households affected by airport noise across the country.

Yangcheon-gu has actively worked to alleviate the suffering of residents in the airport noise-affected areas through cooperation with related agencies by installing cooling facilities, supporting electricity bills during summer, and promoting resident support projects. However, these efforts fell short of the expectations and standards of the affected residents. The breakthrough in practical support for residents in the Gimpo Airport noise-affected area came with the inauguration of District Mayor Lee Gijae in the 8th local government term.

The expansion of substantial support for airport noise victims, which was also a campaign pledge of the district mayor, was the result of long-term consideration of related measures. To this end, Mayor Lee repeatedly emphasized his determination, stating, “Apart from demanding improvements from the government, the district will also prepare reasonable compensation plans and solutions.”

Since taking office last year, Mayor Lee has focused on resolving the airport noise issue and launched seven major projects as key pledges of the 8th local government term, pushing policies forward with speed. As a result, within one year of his inauguration, Yangcheon-gu achieved five significant accomplishments at the basic local government level for the first time nationwide: reduction of local property tax, support for precise hearing tests, implementation of resident counseling and psychological programs, and the opening of a comprehensive airport noise countermeasure support center. Among these, the expansion of the airport noise countermeasure area stands out as a remarkable achievement, drawing attention to the efforts made.

Active On-Site Administration Prevented the Reduction of 3,000 Households That Were Almost Excluded from the Airport Noise Countermeasure Area

To resolve the airport noise problem, Mayor Lee began his proactive on-site administration by visiting the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) on August 24 last year, shortly after taking office, and repeatedly visited related agencies such as Korea Airports Corporation to strengthen cooperation. In particular, concerned about the reduction of Yangcheon-gu’s airport noise countermeasure area due to decreased flight operations caused by COVID-19, he held a roundtable meeting with Minister Won Hee-ryong of MOLIT on August 31 last year.

The airport noise countermeasure area is divided into first, second, and third zones around the airport based on predicted noise impact considering future air traffic demand and is designated and announced every five years. Initially, the MOLIT noise impact survey service planned to drastically reduce about 3,000 households in Yangcheon-gu’s airport noise countermeasure area due to decreased air traffic demand forecasts caused by COVID-19.

In response, the district strongly protested, stating that “it is unreasonable to predict air traffic demand for the next five years by reflecting the special circumstances of COVID-19.” Thanks to this proactive response to the airport noise impact measurement survey, the planned reduction of 3,000 households in the airport noise countermeasure area was prevented. Instead, approximately 450 more households were added to the noise countermeasure area, and the population increased by 1,582.

Contributed to the Establishment of a Special Provision in the Enforcement Decree of the Airport Noise Prevention Act, Leading to Nationwide Expansion of Airport Noise Countermeasure Areas

Moreover, the airport noise countermeasure area has expanded nationwide beyond Yangcheon-gu, increasing the total area of national airport noise countermeasure zones from 100.4㎢ to 113.6㎢, an expansion of 13.2㎢. This is because the airport noise measurement unit was changed and implemented from WECPNL to Lden㏈ on January 1, 2023, reflecting residents’ perceived noise more comprehensively.

Notably, the MOLIT prepared a supplementary provision to ensure that all existing airport noise countermeasure areas are included in the new airport noise countermeasure areas despite the change in measurement units.

Minister Won Hee-ryong and Yangcheon District Mayor Lee Ki-jae measuring noise levels at Sinwol-dong Apartments, an area affected by noise pollution

It is evaluated that the continuous proposals from Yangcheon-gu until the establishment of the supplementary provision contributed to the government’s practical countermeasure formulation and the expansion of airport noise countermeasure areas. In fact, immediately after the roundtable meeting with Minister Won on August 31 last year, Mayor Lee visited an apartment in Sinwol-dong, where airport noise damage is most severe, to measure noise together and requested active interest and cooperation from central government agencies. As a result, Minister Won gave a firm assurance, stating, “We will prepare reasonable measures to alleviate residents’ suffering in the future and will not reduce the airport noise countermeasure areas.”

Subsequently, the enforcement decree of the Act on Prevention of Airport Noise and Support for Noise Countermeasure Areas was partially amended to include previous areas when changing noise countermeasure zones, allowing the expansion of noise countermeasure areas for Gimpo Airport, Incheon Airport, Gimhae Airport, Jeju Airport, and others beyond previous levels.

Lee Gijae, Mayor of Yangcheon-gu, stated, “We will continue to discuss residents’ demands such as reducing late-night flight hours and relaxing altitude restrictions with central government agencies,” adding, “We are committed to expanding support and compensation measures that residents affected by airport noise can actually feel.”

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