A 46-year-old man in Chuncheon was given a one-year prison sentence, suspended for two years, for stalking and drunk driving offenses.

The case stemmed from ongoing disputes over apartment noise between the man and his upstairs neighbor, a 33-year-old woman.

From September 2023 to June 2024, he repeatedly:

– Went to the neighbor’s apartment,

– Banged on her front door,

– Shouted insults, and

– Deliberately created noise in retaliation.


Despite receiving an official police stalking warning, he continued the behavior, escalating it into a criminal offense.

In July 2024, he again visited the neighbor’s home, leading to formal charges under the Stalking Punishment Act.

The court also found him guilty of drunk driving:

He caused an accident while driving with a blood alcohol level of 0.095%, high enough for license revocation.

He had a prior drunk driving conviction in 2017, aggravating the sentence.


In addition to the suspended prison term, the court ordered:

Probation,

40 hours of anti-stalking education, and

Ongoing supervision.


The judge emphasized:

– The defendant’s disregard for police warnings,

– The severe psychological harm suffered by the victim, and

– The fact that no effort was made to compensate or apologize.


The case highlights how inter-floor noise disputes, common in Korean apartment living, can spiral into serious criminal consequences when handled through intimidation rather than legal channels.

Article: https://www.news1.kr/local/kangwon/6010659