'Songpa Jangji District, a "Noise Hell," to Install Soundproof Walls After 7 Years'

Installation of Noise Attenuators in Existing Soundproof Zones
Low-Noise Double-Layer Resurfacing Every 7 Years

Noise prevention measures, including the installation of noise attenuators on the soundproof walls of the Metropolitan Area 1st Ring Expressway near Songpa Pine Apartment Town in Songpa-gu, Seoul, are being implemented.

The Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission (ACRC) announced on the 10th that it has agreed with Seoul Housing and Communities Corporation and Korea Expressway Corporation to establish noise prevention measures for residents of Songpa Pine Apartment Town in Jangji District, Songpa-gu, Seoul.

Kim Tae-gyu, Vice Chairman of the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission
Photo by Yonhap News

This area has had soundproof walls installed since 2017 towards the nearby Wirye District, and there have been continuous complaints about noise caused by the overflow phenomenon. The overflow phenomenon refers to noise passing over the existing soundproof wall due to height differences in the walls. After nearly seven years without any measures to address the noise damage, residents filed a collective complaint with the ACRC in October last year.

After several on-site investigations and consultations with related agencies, the ACRC finalized a mediation plan on the 5th. The Seoul Housing and Communities Corporation will install noise attenuators on the upper section of the existing soundproof wall facing the apartment complex and will reapply the double-layer low-noise pavement on the expressway every seven years. Additionally, they agreed to faithfully implement the existing agreement with Korea Expressway Corporation to maintain and manage the pavement for 30 years.

Korea Expressway Corporation will install speed display unmanned enforcement cameras in noise-prone sections to prevent speeding, in cooperation with the police department, and will diligently perform maintenance tasks such as gap cleaning to preserve the effect of the double-layer low-noise pavement, as agreed with Seoul Housing and Communities Corporation.

Kim Taegyu, Vice Chairman of the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission, stated, "This agreement is meaningful as it provides a solution to improve living conditions amid long-standing unresolved noise complaints," and added, "We ask that measures be taken promptly so that residents of the Jangji District apartments can be relieved from noise damage even slightly, thereby reducing traffic noise and minimizing inconvenience to the public."

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