Korean Job Discussion Forums

Bo Peabody · Joined: 25 Aug 2005

How thick are the walls in Seoul?

Bulsajo · Joined: 16 Jan 2003

Noise pollution is a way of life if you're in a city of any size. Whether it's traffic, drunks shouting at each other, guys with loudspeakers selling stuff, other guys with megaphones praying, music blasting out of stores, dry cleaners yelling for people to bring out their clothes, kids being kids, etc. your super hi-fi with the earth-shaking bass will be a drop in the ocean.

Bo Peabody · Joined: 25 Aug 2005

oh crap.

Bulsajo · Joined: 16 Jan 2003

Yeah, buy a bigger stereo and bring earplugs. Laughing

Seriously though it's really hard to generalize- some neighborhoods are quieter than others, and it could even vary from block to block or building to building.

Be prepared to be flexible on both your music listening habits and your tolerance to annoying sounds.

fidel · Joined: 07 Feb 2003 Location: North Shore NZ

You won't get away with blasting wall shaking music especially if you live anywhere near me because I'll break in a trash your sounds when you're out!

Apartment complexes have rules about noise and it has been my experience that these are pretty much followed though you still get wankers who keep dogs in 'no dog' apartments, stomp around late at night, and do their washing after midnight.

Do everyone a favor and invest in some high quality headphones.

Captain Corea · Joined: 28 Feb 2005 Location: Seoul

Agreed, while the streets might seem overly noisey, there is no way the neighbors will put up with the new foriegner blasting away.

I don't see it going well for ya man.

hojucandy · Joined: 03 Feb 2003 Location: In a better place

then again yu may get lucky. i am also an addict of music and like it loud...

the villa apartment where i live in yeonsan-dong, busan is remarkably soundproof. if i shut the windows and the foyer door (there are effectively two front doors) it is quiet as a morgue in here. i can't even hear when my neghbour's dog is yapping. my neighbours incidentally are canadians.

i have experimented with turning my music up extremely loud, then going out in the corridor and shutting my front doors. no sound leakage at all. also i never hear my neighbours through the walls.

so - my advice to yu is to look for a well-built place. this place is mine, not my employers. i paid the deposit money myself. if yu are new here this may not be an option and yu may have to take whatever dump yu are given as i did for years.

TJ · Joined: 10 Mar 2003

In my first year in Korea I lived in an apartment in Donghae. My neighbours on one side were very noisey, especially around 3 am. I called them the 2F couple............. if they weren't fighting they were f*#@ing. At first it was entertaining but soon it became simply annoying. It may sound callous but my wife and I reached the stage of hoping that one would kill the other just so we could get some sleep.

joe_doufu · Joined: 09 May 2005 Location: Elsewhere

The good thing about an office-tel is that slightly more than half (I estimate) of the apartments are offices, and the workers go home by 9 or 10 in the evening. So, while other people do live in the building they aren't my next door neighbors, and I could theoretically have loud orgies all nigth without bothering anybody.

Bo Peabody · Joined: 25 Aug 2005

[deleted]

hojucandy · Joined: 03 Feb 2003 Location: In a better place

good idea - unfortunately any kimchi offerred by a foreigner will be deemed to be of low quality and hence rejected Sad

antoniothegreat · Joined: 28 Aug 2005 Location: Yangpyeong

it doesnt matter what the rules and expectations are, since you are a foreigner, your music will be too loud and inappropriate. in my apt, its ok to hammer something for an hour at 2:00 am, or instill A/C at 11:00 pm, but my moderately played music at noon on saturday is a big concern to everyone.