[26.05.17] “Soccer Ball Noise Complaints” Rise as Schools Restrict Student Sports Activities

73% of Seoul Elementary Schools Banning Soccer and Baseball Located Near Apartment Complexes

📍More than half of restricted elementary schools in Seoul and Busan are located near apartment complexes, raising concerns over children losing playground space

Elementary schools across Seoul and Busan are increasingly restricting after-school sports activities due to noise complaints and safety concerns. More than half of the affected schools are located near large apartment complexes known as “cho-pum-a,” a Korean term referring to apartments built close to elementary schools.

Critics say the situation exposes a contradiction in society: families prefer apartments near schools for safer commutes and higher property values, yet complaints about playground noise are leading to shrinking spaces for children to run and play.

🔹 Sharp Increase in Schools Restricting Sports Activities

According to data released by the Seoul and Busan education offices, 75 elementary schools in Seoul and 106 in Busan currently restrict or effectively ban sports activities such as soccer and baseball.

In Seoul, the number represents about 12.4% of all elementary schools, while in Busan the figure reaches 35%.

A large proportion of these schools are located directly beside apartment complexes. In Seoul, 55 out of 75 restricted schools were classified as “cho-pum-a” schools, while Busan recorded 43 out of 106.

The term generally refers to apartments located within a five-minute walk of a school without requiring children to cross major roads.

🔹 Quiet Playgrounds Replace Children’s Voices

At one elementary school in Seoul’s Gangnam district, the playground remained nearly silent during the daytime.

The school was surrounded by high-rise apartment buildings, with some residents able to look directly down onto the field from their balconies.

School officials said repeated complaints about noise have forced them to reduce ball games and other outdoor activities.

One staff member explained, “Whenever children shout or soccer balls make noise, complaints are filed against the school. We now focus mainly on quieter activities.”

Some schools reportedly limit playground use to once a week per grade during lunch breaks, while others have reduced the scale of school sports festivals.

In one case, police were reportedly dispatched to a school sports event after nearby residents complained about noise.

🔹 “Kids Learn Soccer at Academies Now”

As playground activities shrink, many parents say they are turning to private sports academies instead.

One parent in Seoul said, “These days it’s common to send children to indoor soccer classes or jump rope academies because schools no longer allow kids to freely play ball games.”

Another parent explained that even small groups of students are often prevented from using school playgrounds after class, forcing families to search for paid indoor sports facilities.

Experts warn that reduced physical activity may negatively affect children’s health, teamwork skills, and social development.

They argue that elementary school years are critical for physical growth and peer interaction, making excessive playground restrictions particularly concerning.

🔹 Schools Caught Between Complaints and Responsibility

Teachers argue that repeated complaints and fear of safety accidents are making sports restrictions unavoidable.

The elementary teachers’ union said complaints often continue even after school sports festivals end, including disputes over judging decisions and event management.

Some teachers also criticized education authorities for underreporting the actual scale of restrictions.

One Seoul teacher claimed, “Officially, only a limited number of schools are said to restrict sports activities, but in reality many more schools are limiting playground use.”

Education authorities previously revised official figures after controversy emerged over inconsistencies in earlier reports.

Meanwhile, some educators argue that the issue reflects broader social responsibility.

One elementary school teacher said, “Residents filing complaints, authorities avoiding responsibility, and schools becoming passive out of fear have together created this reality. Adults need to ask themselves whether they are taking away children’s right to freely run and play.”

One-line summary : As more elementary schools in Seoul and Busan restrict sports activities due to noise complaints, criticism is growing over the contradiction surrounding apartment complexes built near schools.