Filing a Noise Complaint Against a Neighbor in South Korea

What the Law Says

South Korean law regulates residential noise primarily under the Act on Prevention of Noise and Vibration (소음·진동규제법), enacted in 1995 and amended most recently in 2023. The law sets permissible sound pressure levels for residential areas: 50 dB(A) during daytime (06:00–22:00) and 40 dB(A) at night (22:00–06:00), measured at the boundary of adjacent dwellings (Enforcement Decree, Article 7). Excessive noise—including loud music, shouting, appliance use, or construction outside permitted hours—may constitute a violation. Local governments (e.g., Seoul Metropolitan Government) may impose stricter standards via ordinances.

Under Article 38 of the Noise and Vibration Act, violators face administrative fines up to ₩2 million. Repeated or severe violations may trigger criminal referral or civil liability under the Civil Act (Ministry of Environment, 2023 Guidelines).

While not a criminal offense per se, persistent noise may also fall under Article 222 of the Criminal Act (‘Disturbing the Peace’) if it intentionally disrupts others’ daily life and is deemed socially intolerable—though prosecution is rare without corroborating evidence.

Statutory Text

No person shall emit noise exceeding the standards prescribed by Presidential Decree in residential areas.

— Act on Prevention of Noise and Vibration, Article 6(1)

Statutory Text

The head of a local government may order cessation, remediation, or impose a fine not exceeding two million won.

— Act on Prevention of Noise and Vibration, Article 38(1)

What to Do

Sources

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