Q: I am having some problems with jumping children upstairs from me. I have no idea why they would allow their children to do this. Despite asking for help from the landlord, they don’t stop. It’s a new apartment building, and I love this place, but I don’t know what to do with them. I am thinking of writing a kind note or something. What else can I do?

A: You live in an apartment. I live in an apartment. Most people in Korea live in an apartment. I am pretty sure that a lot of Koreans out there are experiencing the same thing.

Before we get started, here’s a survey.

According to Korea Environment Corporation (한국 환경 공단), complaints submitted to the Floor Noise Management Center (aka층간소음 이웃사이 센터) have more than doubled last year during the COVID 19 situation. (That explains a lot!)

People stayed home for longer hours than ever.

Kids were home-schooled.

So many apartments have placed fliers and leaflets on their bulletin board or on their elevator saying “discipline your children”, “walk gently”, or “Do not use a treadmill late at night”.

Still, that doesn’t stop people from being noisy.

So, we have guidelines for common residential buildings noise.

It’s called 공동주택 층간소음 범위와 기준에 관한 규칙.

Rules vary a little, depending on the time and the size of the building.

The permitted range of noise level is around 40-50 decibels.

When you hear 40 decibels, you can’t probably tell how noisy it means.

A typical conversation is around 40-50 decibels.

If your kids are running here and there, decibel goes up around 60 decibels.

So, that means, daily noise under the guideline is within the reasonable range of noise level.

If the sound level is too high, what should you do? Can you visit upstairs?

It’s legal for you to visit your neighbor to complain about this problem.

You can visit the family upstairs. You can knock on their door or ring a bell.

Or if you think you are the one who’s making the noise, you can visit people downstairs to apologize in advanced, too.

But if you bang on the door, yell in the middle of the night to make a complaint, it can be problematic.

There’s something that you should be aware of.

In Korea, there’s a crime called “주거침입죄”. – trespassing.

Banging on the door or yelling in the middle of the night can also be defined as “주거침입죄”. (because the hall way is also considered as their property)

Don’t try to enter your neighbor’s home against their will.

You should never their passcode to enter their residence.

Even if you tried to talk to your neighbor about this problem, but if you don’t see any improvement… what I suggest is that you call the Floor Noise Management Center. Its number is 1661 2642.

The first thing they’ll do is send a letter to your neighbor.

They ask whether he or she wishes to participate consultation.

If that person says yes, they arrange the first meeting.

If they refuse or if they don’t answer, the center sends the second letter.

They will arrange the consultation and they will help decide what to do next.

And in the worst case scenario, if the level of noise reaches beyond the tolerable level, you can file a lawsuit.

You can ask for compensation if you have to move out or if you have to visit a doctor.