Korean Job Discussion Forums

[miiooan]

I moved into a new place, and the ceilings are super thin. I can hear everything my neighbors are up to, down to individual words in their phone conversations.

Soundproofing isn't an option. I have a hood over my gas range that works well at noise masking, but it pulls cigarette smoke into my apartment from somewhere. Any suggestions for what to buy. I've been to HomePlus and EMart to look for air purifiers or fans, but they're all super quiet. I need something a bit noisier.

Thanks for the help.

[Zackback]

Earplugs

[kiknkorea]

I don't think anyone wants to constantly wear earplugs around the apt. Although, it may pay to get some if sleeping is a problem.

I listen to music to drown out neighbors, but it sounds like you need something more subtle.

I'm not sure if the department stores here sell those nature sound devices that emit sounds like the ocean, rain, and rain forests. Those are good to have.
Or you could try one of those plug-in fountains (not sure if they're noisy enough though.)

Best of luck.

[jammo]

vuvuzela

[Son Deureo!]

If you just want to make white noise to drown out the neighbors, you could try using a fan. Just make sure you leave the windows open so you don't die!

Alternatively, there are free white noise generators available online, like www.simplynoise.com.

[Sergio Stefanuto]

Having had a lot of experience with noisy neighbors in Korea, I honestly think the best advice possible is for you to move out at the earliest available chance. I appreciate how incredibly inconvenient that is, but the alternative, in all probability, is a much more painful doom.

[rumdiary]

A fan. It also makes your clothes dry faster. You can also find white noise and relaxation audio like rain or crashing waves on torrent sites and play it through your mp3 player or laptop.

[eamo]

This is what TV's are for.

[West Coast Tatterdemalion]

Second the vuvuzela

[RMNC]

Sex with a Korean girl.

[Hyeon Een]

[Swampfox10mm]

I've posted about this air cleaner in another thread. There are 3 speeds you can choose. It is not only a good air cleaner, on the upper speeds, it makes very clean white nose. I often run it for exactly the purpose you are looking for. It just works well, both at cleaning the air cheaply (by comparison to others) and it will make plenty of white noise on the top speed. For an air cleaner to work well in an apartment, it has to move air. This thing will move air, because it's not tiny like many you'll find, and it doesn't blow a useless whisp of air through the filter, as many brands do to stay silent. I liked it so much, we now have 2. I keep the older one (4 years old) at the office:

http://www.enuri.com/view/Detailmulti.jsp?modelno=28032&cate=00000000&fb=1&porder=1&key=POPULAR

Hanil brand
Model is HAC-1100.