Under current regulations, even if apartments fail to meet noise standards, government cannot enforce builders to fix the problem but merely recommend them to take corrective measures. (Image courtesy of Pixabay)
SEOUL, Dec. 11 (Korea Bizwire) – The land ministry said Monday it will not authorize the completion of newly built apartments if inter-floor noise levels fail to meet accepted standards.
As part of measures to tackle widespread social problems surrounding noise disputes between neighbors, the ministry said it will also strengthen quality control by measuring inter-floor noise during the mid-stage of apartment construction projects.
Additionally, authorities plan to increase the inspection coverage from the current 2 percent to 5 percent of households to enhance inspection reliability.
Under current regulations, even if apartments fail to meet noise standards, government cannot enforce builders to fix the problem but merely recommend them to take corrective measures.
The government has also decided to adopt grade-1 level floor structures for all public housing projects by the state-run Korea Land & Housing Corp. (LH) starting in 2025.
Floor thickness for LH homes will be increased by 4 centimeters to 25 centimeters and be applied with high-performance cushioning materials, the ministry said.
Conflicts between neighbors over apartment floor noise can be observed quite commonly in South Korea, with some cases even having escalated to violent crimes, including murder, in the past.
(Yonhap)
