South Korean apartment dwellers are grappling with a growing crisis as inter-floor noise disputes in densely populated apartment buildings have led to a sharp rise in violent crimes, severe psychological distress and ineffective dispute resolution.

According to a report from the Citizens’ Coalition for Economic Justice (CCEJ), severe crimes triggered by noise disputes between floors, such as murders and assaults, have seen a tenfold increase from 11 cases in 2016 to 110 in 2021.

A fatal incident occurred in Jan. 2023 in the southern city of Sacheon, where a middle-aged man stabbed his neighbor during a heated argument over loud footsteps and slammed doors.

Threats of violence have also become prevalent. In the summer of 2022, a woman in her twenties sharpened a kitchen knife outside her neighbor’s door in Seoul after a prolonged dispute over noises coming from their apartment.

This incident followed a series of other threatening actions, including hammering on the door at night and waiting for the neighbor by the staircase at dawn.

Experts point to longstanding issues with poor construction quality in high-rises and the inadequacy of dispute resolution systems at both local and central levels as the main factors contributing to the surge in noise-related conflicts.

The CCEJ report reveals that the government-run resolution body concludes 70% of complaints with only a phone consultation. In comparison, a mere 3.7% of cases involve onsite noise measurements, indicating a high percentage of unresolved disputes.

Cha Sang-gon, a specialist from the Residential Culture Improvement Lab with two decades of experience handling inter-floor noise dispute cases, emphasized the importance of prompt intervention and mediation by an unbiased third party within six months to prevent escalation. 

“As noise conflicts persist over time, people’s ability to control their emotions and actions deteriorates, giving rise to violent impulses directed at their neighbors,” Cha said, highlighting the severe psychological impact of these disputes.

Cha also noted that clients often express feelings of helplessness when they realize their inability to improve their situation, stating, “For many, the home is supposed to be a sanctuary, but prolonged noise disputes transform it into a living nightmare, driving some individuals to believe that they might face their ultimate demise within the very walls that should provide comfort and security.”

An apartment complex in central Seoul | Image: KoreaPro

FAULTY TOWERS

The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated inter-floor noise disputes between neighbors as people spent more time at home, significantly increasing complaints to the government-run resolution center. In 2023, the center registered 36,000 complaints, a considerable rise from 26,000 in 2019.

“People only file complaints when they’re really suffering,” Baek In-gil, a professor at the Architecture and Urban Research Information Center at Daejin University, said during a CCEJ press conference, suggesting that the actual number of those affected by noise issues likely exceeds reported figures.

“The sheer number of households disturbing their neighbors to the point of causing harm through noise suggests the existence of a more fundamental problem,” he added.

A 2019 government audit revealed significant noise insulation failures in apartment buildings due to inadequate construction. The audit, which assessed 191 apartment units slated for sale, found that 60% failed to meet the required noise insulation standards compared to earlier tests.

Experts have also identified a structural issue related to a common construction method of high-rises, noting that nearly 95% of these buildings use walls to support ceilings instead of pillars. This shift, which took place during the 1980s construction boom, prioritized wall-based construction for its cost-effectiveness despite its vulnerability to noise transmission.

“The ongoing problem of inter-floor noise can be largely attributed to developers choosing wall-based construction to maximize profits, coupled with the government’s inadequate regulation of this practice,” Jeong Seok-ho, an assistant professor in the civil engineering department at Changwon University, told Korea Pro. 

In an effort to address fraudulent construction, the government introduced a system in Aug. 2022 that allows inspection agencies to recommend corrective measures or compensation for projects failing to meet the 49-decibel noise insulation standard before granting business approval.

In 2023, a proposal sought to make these recommendations mandatory, subject to a legislative amendment expected to be reviewed by the National Assembly in 2025.

However, critics question the policy’s effectiveness. Cha criticized the new policy for its similarity to a 2005 regulation that set the noise insulation standard at 50 decibels, stating, “The new policy does not require significant changes from operators, but it provides them with a justification to increase apartment presale prices.”

Another concern is the low percentage of units inspected, with only 5% of those ready for sale undergoing inspection. Park Young-min, a senior researcher at the Korea Environment Institute, argues that the varied nature of construction across units means the policy falls short unless every apartment unit is inspected.

An illustration of an unhappy resident in an apartment building | Image: Korea Pro

MENTAL HEALTH IMPACT

Frustrated by the ineffectiveness of current resolution methods, some individuals have taken matters into their own hands. Kim Sook-hee, a 66-year-old Seoul apartment resident, resorted to banging on her ceiling with a broomstick to express her exasperation with the nocturnal disturbances caused by the tenant above.

“I was constantly plagued by thumping and mysterious rolling noises every night,” Kim said. Despite filing a complaint with the apartment manager, the verbal warnings and lukewarm mediation attempts requesting neighborly consideration proved futile.

“I felt I had no choice but to adopt a tit-for-tat approach. Fortunately, they moved out before things got ugly, but I was on the verge of losing my sanity.”

As unresolved disputes continue, experts highlight the profound psychological impact of noise disputes, associating them with a rise in serious crimes. Dr. Lee Kwang-min of Mind Lab The Place Psychiatric Clinic emphasizes that repeated exposure to noise can lead to significant neurotic disorders, intensifying victims’ stress responses.

This exposure often results in sleep disturbances and heightened anxiety, with the unpredictable and uncontrollable nature of noise causing individuals to become hypersensitive to everyday sounds. Such hypersensitivity can distort their perception of their environment and fuel suspicions of malicious intent.

“People begin to question the motives behind the noise, speculating whether it is a deliberate act despite prior warnings. When this negative cognition becomes entangled in their thought process while remaining hypersensitive, it evokes intense emotions and triggers anger,” Lee told Korea Pro.

An apartment under construction, Sept. 2020 | Image: Korea Pro

WIDESPREAD VULNERABILITY

Most South Koreans are susceptible to inter-floor noise issues, with 78% of the population residing in multi-story residential buildings and apartments being the most favored housing option at 63.5%.

The prevalence of these common residential structures, many of which lack adequate soundproofing, makes escaping inter-floor noise a formidable challenge for most people in the nation.

A government survey involving 3,040 participants revealed that 88% of respondents experience stress due to noise from neighbors, with approximately half of those surveyed admitting to having engaged in disputes with their neighbors.

The growing concerns over privacy in communal living spaces are prompting a reassessment of what constitutes the ideal home, with some experts anticipating a significant shift in urban lifestyles.

“While apartment living was once a necessity dictated by less-than-ideal circumstances, today, we aspire to something more than the constraints of conventional apartments. We are seeking values that redefine the very essence of what a home should be,” Jeong of Changwon University said.

Edited by John Lee