"Even If You're a Woman, If I Catch You Smoking..." A Neighbor's Fierce Warning Notice

Listing Cigarette Types: "Lipstick Marks... I Hit Women Too"
Netizens Say "Satisfying"... Some Smokers Find It "Uncomfortable"

Conflicts between neighbors due to smoking continue to be an ongoing issue, and a fierce warning directed at a neighbor who repeatedly smokes in front of their home has recently attracted attention.

On July 18, a post titled "I hit both men and women" spread across several online communities. The post included a single photo without further explanation, showing a warning notice posted at what appears to be a multi-family residence.

[Image source=Online community capture]

The warning notice reads, "Do not smoke in front of someone else's home. If I catch you, I will report you (and) beat you up," and is signed by "Unit 202," indicating the author's apartment number. The notice also lists the types of cigarettes that caused secondhand smoke damage, then adds, "I know you're a woman because of the lipstick marks. I hit women too."

It is presumed that the warning was posted after a female neighbor repeatedly smoked and discarded cigarette butts in front of the home, prompting the resident to take action after reaching their limit.

Online users who saw the warning expressed satisfaction. Comments included, "Smoking-related harm is not a gender issue," "Imagine how much they must have suffered," and "As a non-smoker, it's really stressful. People who haven't experienced it wouldn't understand."

However, some pointed out that the wording was somewhat uncomfortable. Criticisms included, "Does this building even have a proper smoking area?", "Will you beat up everyone who causes trouble after drinking too?", and "Why is there a need to specifically mention that the smoker is a woman?"

Requesting to Refrain from Smoking Leads to 'Front Door Attack'... Cases of Home Intrusion as Well

[Image source=Online community BobaeDream capture]

Meanwhile, conflicts between neighbors over smoking in multi-unit residences are nothing new. Last month, a story went viral in online communities about a pregnant woman who asked her neighbor to refrain from smoking between floors, only to have her front door attacked in retaliation, sparking public outrage.

The poster wrote, "The smell of cigarettes from the downstairs apartment comes up every day, making it hard for me as a pregnant woman and also for my husband, so we went to ask them to refrain. A woman in her 40s came out with a cigarette in her mouth and said, 'Why does it matter to you if I smoke in my own home?'"

Three weeks after that incident, the poster reported that an unknown liquid and dirt were splashed all over their front door and window area, expressing frustration. It was reported that the police suspected the liquid to be a chemical and launched an investigation, including forensic analysis and interviews.

In another case from March, a man was given a suspended prison sentence in the first trial after he assaulted a neighbor whom he suspected of smoking in the apartment stairwell, and also assaulted responding police officers.

In July of last year, this man assaulted a neighbor in the stairwell of an apartment in Nowon District, Seoul, asking, "Why do you always smoke in the stairwell?" He then entered the neighbor's home and struck their face multiple times. When police responded to the report, he verbally abused them and punched one officer in the abdomen.

The first trial court stated, "The defendant assaulted the victims and interfered with official duties without any particular reason, which is a serious offense," and added, "The defendant did not reach a settlement with the victims." However, the court also noted, "Each of these crimes appears to have occurred due to the defendant's unstable mental state caused by a mental illness, so it seems necessary to prioritize treatment."

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