Gyeonggi Province pilots South Korea's first motorcycle noise cameras

Gyeonggi Province is launching a pioneering initiative to tackle the growing problem of motorcycle noise, which has become a major nuisance for residents, particularly during nighttime hours. Starting July 7, the province will pilot a cutting-edge noise monitoring camera system, the first in South Korea, in three locations identified as hotspots for noise-related complaints: Seongnam City's Sujeong-gu (two sites) and Uijeongbu City (one site). This project, backed by 340 million won in provincial funding, aims to move beyond traditional, manpower-intensive enforcement methods that struggled to capture the unpredictable nature of motorcycle noise.

The newly adopted cameras are sophisticated devices capable of real-time noise source detection and immediate sound level measurement. The threshold for violation is set at 105 decibels (dB), exceeding even the noise level of a passing train. However, due to existing legal limitations that prevent direct fines based on camera evidence for noise violations, the pilot phase will focus on educating offenders. Motorcycles identified by the cameras will receive 'noise improvement notices' instead of penalties. This approach is a direct response to a dramatic increase in noise complaints, which surged from 152 cases in 2019 to 1,184 in 2023, an almost eightfold increase attributed to the rise of delivery culture.

This initiative aligns with the 'Gyeonggi Province Motorcycle Noise Management Ordinance' and the province's independently developed 'Gyeonggi Province Motorcycle Noise Management Plan (2025-2029)'. Gyeonggi Province intends to meticulously analyze data on high-noise motorcycle usage patterns and temporal distributions during the pilot operation. Based on these findings, the province plans to petition the national government for legislative and systemic improvements to enable effective enforcement and penalties. Park Dae-geun, head of Gyeonggi Province's Environmental Health and Safety Division, stated, "The introduction of noise monitoring cameras is a scientific noise management model being attempted for the first time nationwide. We will do our best to improve the living conditions and environment of residents suffering from motorcycle noise by establishing a 24-hour continuous monitoring system."

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The introduction of noise monitoring cameras is a scientific noise management model being attempted for the first time nationwide. We will do our best to improve the living conditions and environment of residents suffering from motorcycle noise by establishing a 24-hour continuous monitoring system.