South Korean Man Accused of Neighbor Murder Over Noise Dispute Requests Jury Trial

A 20-year-old man, arrested and charged with the murder of his upstairs neighbor following a prolonged dispute over noise, has formally requested a jury trial. The suspect submitted the request to the Daegu District Court, stating he wishes to receive a fair sentence from the public. The case centers on an alleged fatal stabbing that occurred in an apartment elevator in Daegu's Seo District.

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I want to receive an appropriate sentence from the citizens who become jurors.

According to the indictment, the suspect is accused of repeatedly stabbing the victim, a man in his 50s, more than 40 times, resulting in his death. The incident reportedly stemmed from escalating tensions over noise complaints between the two households. The victim's family asserts that they took significant measures to mitigate noise after moving into the apartment in April 2023, including placing soundproof mats in the living room and consistently wearing slippers.

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Even though there was no computer in the house, he complained about the sound of mouse clicks.

Despite these efforts, the suspect allegedly persisted with complaints, even citing the sound of computer mouse clicks as disruptive, despite the victim's family stating they did not own a computer. The victim's family also claims they reported the suspect to the police in May of the previous year due to his aggressive behavior and perceived threats. They further allege that the apartment experienced persistent, heavy impact noises and vibrations from its initial occupancy, and that attempts to identify the source, including replacing plumbing parts, were unsuccessful.

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We felt threatened by A's rough protests and reported it to the police.