Hola!!(by the way, this means hello is Spanish~~:D)

How are you today?? I wish everybody to have a wonderful day~!!

Have you ever felt disturbed by the continuous noise that was occurring around you?

This is also considered as a serious pollution in Seoul!

What exactly is noise pollution?  The dictionary definition of noise pollution is excessive, displeasing human, animal, or machine-created environmental noise that disrupts the activity or balance of human or animal life.  The word noise may be from the Latin word nauseas, which means disgust or discomfort.  The source of most outdoor noise worldwide is mainly construction and transportation systems, including motor vehicle noise, aircraft noise, and rail noise.  High noise levels can contribute to cardiovascular effects in humans, a rise in blood pressure, and an increase in stress and vasoconstriction.  There are a lot of circumstances happening by the noise pollution. 

The first phenomenon talks about the worsening situation of noise pollution.  The average level of noise in Seoul last year was 68 decibel, well over the legal limit of 65 decibel.  However, Seoul is not the only noisy city in Korea, where among 33 cities, 13 exceeds the regulations.  Among 2,086 environment-related petitions submitted to the National Environmental Dispute Resolution Commission since 1991, 86 percent or 1,790 cases were noise and vibration related.  Also, survey done by the National Statistical Office of people aged 15 or more last year, 92.8 percent said noise got worse in recent years.  Furthermore, they claimed that repeated exposure to noise over 85 decibel for eight hours or more a day can increase mental stress and damage hearing.     

The next issue deals with households suffering traffic noise.  Due to the seriousness of the current status quo, households exposed to loud noise because of traffic will be financially compensated by the government.  The National Environmental Dispute Resolution Commission ruled that four of the 40 households living by a noisy thoroughfare be paid 4 million won in total.  The households filed a complaint in September 2011 against the city government which governs over the road that has a lot of noise pollution.  The group comprised of 135 people. They claimed they had suffered from sleep disruption since moving into the then-newly built apartment in June 1995.  The residents added that the traffic system by their residential area also puts their health at risk as well as causes a hearing disability.  The government recognized a person eligible for compensation for possible physiological and psychological damage when exposed to traffic noise equal to or higher than 65 decibels.

The last point is about the situation where Koreans demonstrated against noise pollution at the U.S. Air Force Koon-ni firing rang.  The U.S. military has 20 bases in South Korea and operates on that area.  Seoul District Court said that 14 residents of the coastal village of Maehyang-ri must be compensated for damages caused by U.S bombing exercises.  The court ordered the Korean government to pay a combined total of 132 million won for residents living nearby about 80 kilometers. The residents filed suit in February 1998, saying they have suffered damage to their houses and excessive noise from the military drills since the range was built in 1954, soon after the close of the Korean War.

All these occurrences are not by coincidence or chances.  It is because of detrimental human activities.  Let us all work together to reduce the noise pollution!!