Korean Dictionary

How to say "Noise Pollution" in Korean

Noise Pollution” in Korean is 소음 공해 (pronounced "soeum gonghae").

소음 공해

soeum gonghae

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IntermediateEnvironment

Usage & Context

Noise pollution refers to disruptive or harmful levels of sound in the environment. Urban areas in Korea experience noise pollution from traffic, construction, and entertainment. Laws regulate noise levels in Korean residential areas.

Example Sentence

소음 공해로 잠을 잘 못 자요.

I cannot sleep well due to noise pollution.

How to use 소음 공해 naturally

Quick answer

The Korean word for “Noise Pollution” is 소음 공해, romanized as soeum gonghae.

Usage tip

Learn this word together with a complete Korean sentence. Meaning often depends on particles, politeness level, and word order.

Common mistake

Do not rely only on the English meaning. Read the Korean example sentence and notice the particles, word order, and politeness level around 소음 공해.

Pronunciation Guide

Pronounce '소음' (soeum) like 'so-oom', where 'so' is like in 'soda' and 'oom' is a short 'uhm' sound. '공해' (gonghae) sounds like 'gong-heh', with 'gong' as in the instrument and 'heh' like 'heh-heh'. The overall rhythm is quite even.

More Example Sentences

Complaining about noisy neighbors in an apartment building.

아파트 위층 소음 공해가 너무 심해서 이사 가고 싶어요.

The noise pollution from the upstairs apartment is so bad I want to move.

Discussing the impact of urban development.

건설 현장 때문에 소음 공해가 심각해요.

Due to the construction site, noise pollution is severe.

Discussing environmental policy and urban planning.

소음 공해를 줄이기 위한 정책이 필요합니다.

Policies are needed to reduce noise pollution.

Cultural Context

Noise pollution, especially '층간 소음' (inter-floor noise) in apartments, is a significant social issue in Korea. News reports and K-dramas often feature conflicts arising from noisy neighbors. Urban areas are also prone to construction and traffic noise, leading to public discussions about regulations and mitigation efforts.

Editorial note

We review entries like 소음 공해 for pronunciation, example sentence fit, and learner mistakes so the page answers more than a direct dictionary lookup.

Reviewed by Min-jung Park, Korean Language Teacher. Updated May 31, 2026. See our editorial standards.

Common Phrases

소음 공해가 심하다

Noise pollution is severe

소음 공해를 줄이다

To reduce noise pollution

소음 공해 문제

Noise pollution problem

Related Expressions

층간 소음

cheunggan soeum

Inter-floor noise (specific to apartments)

대기 오염

daegi oyeom

Air pollution

수질 오염

sujil oyeom

Water pollution

환경 오염

hwangyeong oyeom

Environmental pollution (general term)

More Environment Words

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