Korean Job Discussion Forums

[pikachun1]

I recently got moved to a new apartment because my company changed my work location. My old apartment before the move was the corner of the building, so one side was the edge of the building and the other side was an elevator. It was so quiet and peaceful.

In any case, I moved and now live in a new apartment. I am between two neighbors, now. The problem is that I hear muffled television noises from both sides! On the left side, this person wakes up with the TV, so I went over at like 6:45 am to talk to them. I rang the doorbell. No answer. I wasn't standing in front of the person's telecom so this person couldn't see me, so maybe this person thought it was a prank? I rang twice.

The next few days, (I come home from work at 6pm, leave at like 7-8ish), I hear muffled TV right when I come home from work. I go over at like 7-8ish to talk (I bought fruit to give to be kind), there was again no answer. I knocked and rang the doorbell a few times. This time I made sure to stand in front of the telecom. There was no answer. I go home wondering why this person isn't answering. Maybe, this person left the TV on. Anyways, I go home and the sound has gotten quieter, so maybe this person just didn't want to answer the door. He/she could be anti-social scared or whatnot. It gets louder again an hour later so I go and ring the doorbell once more. No answer again. I am now convinced that this person might not want to see me. This person is most likely an English speaker because the TV is playing English shows/dramas. Anyways, I go to the security guard and he said he will tell the hakwon/academy to convey the message that the his/her TV is too loud.

I thought this would be enough, but the next day, the TV is still annoying. I don't know what to do! This person might not want to talk to me, so I will write a friendly letter, I guess.

Now...my right-side neighbor is not as loud, but there are still muffled noises which I can hear. I am a quiet guy and I have no TV and i try to be mindful of my neighbors, since I have been living in an apartment all my life. I know it can get loud. In any case, the right-side neighbor is also an English-speaker (saw her once when I was settling in my new home). I don't know if I am just being a pesky person, but these muffled noises are killing me. I use earplugs, and I use them to sleep, but I wish I didn't have to use them right when I get home.

I don't know what to do. Should I just accept it or say a friendly word or two. Should I just write a letter first in case they are anti-social or is that too passive-aggressive? I am also thinking about speaking to the other neighbors of my neighbors to see if they have the same problem. When both sides give me muffled TV noises, it can drive someone insane.

Sorry about the long post; somehow it got really long! What are your thoughts and your personal experiences? Thanks!

[Zackback]

Had a situation that was almost the same. Since you already use earplugs at least your sleep is undisturbed. That's big. What I did is just wear them all the time when the noise was too much. If you don't have a TV (I don't either - didn't want one) and you are alone in the apartment then it wouldn't make any difference if you always wear them.

[Setaro]

You can hear a muffled TV. If it's muffled, then certainly it's not very loud, it's probably at normal volume, bearing in mind the thin walls you mentioned. You don't really have any right to ask your neighbour to turn down his TV when it's at normal levels. Hell, when my room is silent, I can hear my neigbour's skype conversations, clear enough to understand most things, and he's speaking at normal volume.

You live in an apartment, you have to learn to deal with totally normal noise from your neighbours, or get out. No other choice really.

[TheUrbanMyth]

[chrisinkorea2011]

Maybe they are just being jerks about it? lol i live in a one room studio in my building. Things were not too bad for the most part until a restaurant opened up beneath me. It is one of the more popular shabu restaurants and it stays open until 2am so it isnt uncommon to hear the drunken stupor or men AND women falling up or down the stairs/yelling at each other/ or slamming the first floor bathroom door (which is positioned right beneath my apartment). At first i ignored it, hoping it would go away, however it got worse so now i result to shouting shut up to them, or if them are outside il throw water out my window and tell them "oh my bad." then when they yell in korean I tell them i cant understand. works like a champ haha

[highstreet]

Are you really complaining about muffled noises at 6PM?

[pikachun1]

UrbanMyth: I guess the neighbor being reticent is understandable. I guess I will pass on the message or write a letter not to inconvenience the neighbor. Thanks~

Chris: I guess your situation is worse than mine. eek!

Highstreet: If it was only at like 6-8ish, then that'd be fine. But, It continues until like 11-12 at night. I am a quiet guy, and I like to read. Also, I sleep early, so that's why I'm bothered. =[

[Setaro]

[pikachun1]

Setaro: Hiya~ I wasn't saying anyone should live by my schedule. Just want to ask if it's so bad to ask a neighbor to lower the volume a bit more! I know the hours for hakwons. I think you are speaking in the perspective of the neighbor rather than mine, pretty much telling me to get over it. I mean I live near a busy street where its connected to some bridge so I constantly hear buses and cars late at night too. I think hearing a muffled TV or conversation is, believe it or not, worse than noise from public transportation--although to be fair, a train 50 meters away does sound pretty bad, assuming it runs by frequently. But noises from the city vs noises from the neighbor can differ on how much it can be annoying.

It can be worse of course. These walls are not paper thin, and I think you might think that. It was an officetel built in 2003 and is pretty new. Thanks though for your input!

[highstreet]

IMO asking someone to keep it down between the hours of 9-10AM to 10-11PM is just rude. Of course if the noise is at a unreasonable volume, which I'm assuming it's not since you say it's muffled, you're just being the annoying neighbor.

[nero]

This is prolly not very helpful...but I remember my worst experience with thin walls was when my young neighbours were bar workers and would come home EVERY night at 4-5am, have a party or watch TV until about 7-8am. This lasted about 3 months and there was nothing I could do. I tried everything, but they were back to their old ways within a few days.
Once they ordered food at about 5am. The walls were so thin I could hear their order. I sprang out of bed and banged on their door. They were obviously expecting the delivery guy. Instead they got me in my smalls wearing a wifebeater with tatts showing waving an alarm clock in their faces. They were good for a few days after that. Jesus, I wanted to frigging kill them.

Anyway, back on topic...I think you can but ask, OP, but don't expect anyone to oblige your request.

[wishfullthinkng]

as long as they aren't being overly loud the reality is that in tight metropolitan areas you will have large amounts of noise no matter what, especially in apartment complexes that weren't built with soundproofing in mind.

at first it bothered me too but after living in nyc and seoul for a long time i feel that now i can sleep through a marching band.

much like most things in life, you can train your brain to get used to it and adapt.

[HELICIS]

I got Bigfoot and his wife living above me.

[freddy teacher]

i had this problem a few days ago...unfortunately, despite the fact i got what i wanted (quiet time), i think i handled it the wrong way.

after weeks of noise, i finally went (@3:30am) to the semi-retarded koreans above me and asked them to quietly turn down their blaring k-drama and stfu as i had to work the next day. i asked them in english AND in KOREAN. at 3:45am it didnt stop, do i decided to get some superglue and mayo and decorate his keyless entry pad. he was surprised to see that someone left him a present the next morning.

he came to the conclusion it was me, i casually denied it, but told him he deserved it. that was it, and the noise pretty much stopped.

[pikachun1]

It's crazy what noise through the walls can do to someone. It can drive you nuts. I have a cctv in my hall so I can't do anything rash. haha