Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Aelric]

I have an awful neighbor. The guy in the unit above mine arrive home around 3am every night, drunk as a skunk and starts throwing things. I can't really figure out any other explanation for the sounds I hear that wake me up every damn night. Accompanying the slams and bangs and shattering sounds is a woman's wailing and angry male screaming. Occasionally, I'll hear the lady fighting back, but that only delays the inevitable crying. this occasionally lasts until the next morning. Last night was one of those nights, and the fight apparently spilled out into the hallway and stairwell. I heard things being thrown down the stairwell and for a solid hour the guy screamed and slammed his door over and over again. open door, slam, open door, slam, open door, slam. I saw the lady later today and she was beat to shit. If I were back home and not in a country where getting involved might mean job loss and deportation, I'd go up there and at least try to stop the situation. At the very least, I'd call the police or some battered woman's hotline and make someone aware of what was going on. Here, I feel powerless to stop it. I'm logical enough to not actually go up their and ruin my own life over it, but I really want to get the poor lady some help. Is there any kind of place I can call to do that? From what I hear, the cops tend to ignore domestic violence calls. Should I try them anyway? I'd prefer to stay anonymous, but that is kinda tough being the white dude I am. I dunno. Suggestions?

[bluelake]

I hate to say it, but when it comes to domestic fights in Korea, it is best to not get involved. In the end, if you get involved, it is quite likely you will be the one in trouble.

[tzechuk]

In cases like this, I normally call the police. Not to complain about the spousal abuse, but to complain about the noise. They do have laws regarding noise after midnight here, you know?

[harlowethrombey]

Similar situation at my building. I just cant figure out what room it is or I'd deal with it myself. I tried calling the police, but after trying to hash out what was happening on the phone the officers still didnt arrive for an hour (by that time it was 5 AM and the screaming had finally stopped) and when they did arrive at my door they thought I was the domestic disturbance.

No, no, I was the one who called it in. . . And I dutifully showed them the floor it was coming from and the two possible rooms it was coming from. . . and they promptly left without saying a word to me or anyone else.

Keystone at its finest.

[moosehead]

well - it's worth a shot - I've had really good luck with housing here and directors/principals that always looked out for the teachers (when living in the school's housing, that is, and if you are doing the same?) - how about you go to the head of your school - please don't even bother w/a co-teacher - and tell the what's going on and the very least they can do is call the landlord who can talk to the tenants.

in the meanwhile, you might speak to a female K about what options a battered wife does have, if any. progress in domestic violence moves slow in some respects, but in other ways there may be options that haven't made their way into the mainstream media just yet.

please don't give up - your options maybe limited but it's not completely hopeless.

of course, if you're a guy and you're bigger than him, well, you know.....

[Aelric]

Thanks. I'll talk to my co-teacher tomorrow (she is pretty awesome, plus, my VP and Principal don't speak English well enough). Honestly, my first instinct was to go up there and put a fear of god in the dude after I saw that poor ladies face, maybe hold him down for the wife to take a few shots at, but I know that when the cops inevitably come, I'd be the one sent to the pokey and then back to the land of post-grad unemployment (USA).

[tzechuk]

[chris_J2]

I agree with others not to get involved, & to call the police. I once confronted a drunken neighbour at midnight, to shutup, & he then turned his abuse / attention on me, and threatened to kick me in the head. Dial 112 for the police. Preferably with a friendly Korean neighbor or friend. The police have hung up on me in the past, because they couldn't speak English.

[ryoga013]

video camera and tell them that you're recording. If he tries to attack you then you have it all on tape. The idiot still drunken won't think that attacking you will only add to his documented crimes. Make sure you get a copy before handing the memory card or whatever to the police. If possible get the police officers' faces on film as well. Why? so if they don't actually do anything about it, you have their faces ready for the NAVER video.

But as far as trying to break it up, never get involved in their apartment. It wasn't until just recently that Good Samaritan laws were passed and it will be a long time before you'll be thought of as innocent for helping someone else out if you're walking into their place.

[blackjack]

[roadwork]

I had an experience with that when I first moved out to the countryside. A guy thought it would be fun to smack his wife around at 3 a.m. I had enough of listening to her yelling, so I went out and called the cops and they showed up 10 minutes later and told me to go back to my apartment. I watched and the guy started getting cocky with the cops. They had enough, dropped him and threw him in the car. I've seen them do that here a couple of other times. They don't screw around out in the boonies.

[Goku]

Correct me if I'm wrong,
But based on the other posts I've seen there is no penalty for domestic abuse. The police come talk to you and tell you to stop but people can't automatically go jail for it like in the States or some other countries.

So albeit your intentions are good, the only thing you may do is irk your neighbor.

So it won't really end up benefitting you any by calling the police, nor her, nor him.

Retalitate with really loud sex with your girlfriend to distrub them. Show them what's up.

[Captain Corea]

[NightSky]

bottom line: you may get results if you are addressing this purely from the perspective of the noise disturbing you.

if however, you take the angle that you are feeling sorry for a battered wife, you will get no help/interest from the cops, the wife beating will not stop, and in fact may get worse.

the noise is bothering you. don't get into the emotional white knight protective stuff.

[Ilsanman]

If she doesn't try to leave him, she's not worth saving.

The camcorder is good in case it gets in your face. Otherwise, calling the police is good just for the noise factor.