North Korea’s Loudspeakers Keep South Korean Families in Fear – Residents Call for Immediate Action

As North Korea’s loudspeaker broadcasts targeting South Korea continue for the fourth month, residents in border areas are considering relocation due to unbearable distress.

SBS reported on Sunday that the noise from North Korean loudspeakers has been going on incessantly, disrupting daily life for residents in Songhae-myeon, Ganghwa Island. The residents have reportedly resorted to taking headache medication and sleep aids.

A mental health assessment conducted by the Ganghwa County Health Center revealed that about 10% of the 78 residents in Dangsan-ri are experiencing significant stress. Some residents are considering leaving homes they’ve inhabited for nearly five decades.

Kim Ok Soon, a Dangsan-ri resident, shared, “Ever since those North Korean broadcasts started, I’ve had no choice but to take prescribed medication.” Another resident, Chae Gap Sook, stated, “I moved here in 1978, but if it gets unbearable, I’ll have to relocate. There’s no other solution. We can’t just endure this indefinitely.”

Local businesses are also bearing the brunt of the crisis. Han Jae Ho, who owns a fishing spot, lamented, “There are no customers. Since the North Korean broadcasts began, no one can bear to sit here.”

The situation in Gimpo, another border area in Gyeonggi Province, is equally dire. Health center tests in Gimpo City identified 27 out of 102 residents as requiring mental health attention, with two classified as high-risk.

Some residents have taken matters into their own hands by installing soundproof windows. Kim In Jip, a resident of Haseong-myeon, explained, “I couldn’t tolerate it any longer, so I replaced all my windows with double-glazed ones. Of course, I paid for it myself.”

In response to this ongoing crisis, Incheon City has announced plans to allocate 350 million KRW (approximately $260,000) to install soundproof windows for 35 affected households in Dangsan-ri by year’s end. Gimpo City also plans to enhance psychological support for residents by operating counseling centers and providing financial assistance for outpatient treatment.

Online reactions to the crisis have been varied. Some commenters called for a more aggressive response, suggesting South Korea double the volume of its broadcasts. Others urged the government to fully fund soundproofing measures, while a few raised questions about the impact on animals with sensitive hearing. “We need to take stronger action,” one commenter wrote, echoing the sentiment of many.