Korean Job Discussion Forums

[SeoulNate]

Questions: Is there actually a law on the books about noise pollution and or noise levels coming out of store fronts?

I have called the police here in Korea in various other locations about noise pollution, but all it ever does it make the offender turn down whatever is making the noise for an hour or two only to resume later or the next day. I was looking at something a little more concrete that I might actually be able to present to the police to make them enforce it.

To make a long story short, I recently had a SHOW store open up on the first floor of my building and they had been blaring loud pop music starting at around 8 am.

At first, it wasn't a big deal because I am on the top floor of the building and it wasn't much louder than the traffic noise anyway.

However, the past two days it has actually been so loud that it sounds like someone is playing music IN my apartment. If the window is open, the sound is like someone has a rock concert outside my window. I can't deal with it anymore.

I called the police today, they came out, told the store to turn it down, it went down for an hour, and then immediately resumed the former volume an hour or so later.

If there isnt something on the books I can push the police with, I might devise some kind of shoe+razor blade contraption and go down and scuffle their wires some.

[eamo]

I'd guess you need to talk with noise polluter yourself. Politely ask if they can keep it down.

If, or should I say, when, that doesn't work.....then you need ajeossi/ajumma power.......complain to your building manager. He/she might go and do some shouting on your behalf.


But I think the Korean attitude is that if you live in a 'villa' neighborhood then you have to accept the noises of the local businesses.

[SeoulNate]

[jcan]

Dude I'm sorry. That would drive me nuts.

Maybe get your co-teacher to give the building owner a call, they might be able to do something. Or you could just storm in when there's a bunch of customers and flip out and embarrass them.

[nathanrutledge]

There are a lot of laws on the books here, it's a matter of enforcement. Noise pollution laws seems like it would be a -gu or -si thing, MAYBE a provincial thing. Your best bet is to talk to a lawyer or other informed person at one of these offices. I'd start with the -gu office, then the city hall (depending on your city - Seoul, it's probably a -gu thing). Just ask them about the laws regarding that, tell them the problem you're having and that you'd like to find a permanent solution to that.

The thing is, there may be a law and they may be following it. I know my hometown in the US, the law says that you cannot start loud work before 8 am and you cannot continue past 10 pm. There ARE certain decibel requirements and limits, but they are pretty generous.

Of course, if this is in your building, your landlord is the best bet. THEY are the ones who allowed this noise in, so you've got some leeway in threatening to leave and cause trouble. Of course, the SHOW people probably pay more than you do....

Sucks for you. Good luck with it!

[tatertot]

The loud music drives me nuts, too! I have to wonder what the purpose is, though. I mean, are people just walking along, minding their own business, when suddenly...they hear ridiculously loud music and say "I need to buy a cell phone RIGHT NOW from THAT PARTICULAR cell phone store"? The LG store near my place has these huge speakers and they blast music all day long. Every time I walk by, I wonder about the rationale.

[BroodingSea]

Just enjoy it and lighten up. It's part of the experience.

[interestedinhanguk]

[eamo]

[BroodingSea]

Is it actually illegal? I mean it's a behavior common right across Korea. And in my experience it stops at ten pm or so. Anyway it's hardly a police matter ie a criminal offense. The op should have spoken with the proprietor first before taking action. And maybe the op is a bit over sensitive having called the police in the past about "noise pollution".

[ED209]

This is exactly the sort of thing you call the police for here. Don't feel you are wasting their time. You're only robbing them of a sleep in the police car under the bridge. This asks for you to become a nuisance. You can write a letter or get a friend to chat to them. Or, just walk in and unplug the thing. Persistent calls to the police and landlord, not to mention your boss(if it's school housing) will eventually give them a message. Don't be shy, let them know, if they ever see you, or anything that looks like a waygook, the machine turns off!

[rchristo10]

Yes. Search in Aviation law and Zoning Regulations. The details are usually spelled out there. For Korea, you can search via zoning regulations (this apparently also effects subway-related regulations).

But yes, noise is regulated via law.

[carpetdope]

Perhaps you could go into the store and do lots of farts or something?

[Landros]

if they have some guy standing out in front with some desk that they haul out onto the street it would be funny to dump bucket fulls of water or soju on clear sunny days on them. if you window is right over their store but it certainly wouldn't be very nice. I think you should just wait it our and let some Korean grandfather get pissed at them. If it is bothering you it is probably bothering some families or people with kids and I think letting other Koreans deal with it is the best way to go.


If you live anywhere like I do the place could be out of business in a month or two. You could go shopping there every chance you get or organize a million people to on facebook and have them pretend to shop and just about buy a phone and ask questions and then at the last second pull out and decide to buy a phone else where. "oh yeah I just remembers. I have an iphone 4. opps. sorry for wasting your time."

here's my last idea but really unrelated. if you go to a coffeshop and it is crowded but you are a non smoker it is a really funny solution. get all your non smoking friends to fill up the smoking section then the smokers have no where to go. i think that would be hilarious.

I think in Korean citizens are allowed to stand with a poster and protest if they are alone. so you could pay some Korean student to stand infront of the store with a big "Music is noise pollution" sign written in the Korean language.

anyway it doesn't hurt anyone to fantasize about getting back at them but once you make some steps it will just escalate and probably blow up in your face.

Remember if you are not a citizen your best bet is avoid the situation and not get arrested, fined or deported so in the end just buy earplugs or listen to your ipod. get our of the house and join a gym or do something productive.

[Who's Your Daddy?]

I knew a guy that walked over to a noisy store and ripped the speaker off their wall. The workers came out and said "you crazy bastard, you can't do that" (etc.), but they didn't touch him and he walked home.

Wasn't me, but I know him, and it worked.