"Please Be Quiet"... China to Fine Up to 210,000 Won for Disruptive Passengers Using Speakerphones

Fines Imposed for Ignoring Crew Warnings and Causing Noise
Up to 1 Million Won Penalty Possible on Domestic Public Transportation

The city of Guangzhou, China, is moving forward with regulations to prohibit watching videos or making phone calls using mobile phone speakers on public transportation. If passengers cause noise after ignoring crew members' requests to stop, they can be fined up to 210,000 won.

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According to Guangzhou Daily and other sources on September 17, the Standing Committee of the People's Congress in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, recently released a draft of the “Guangzhou City Noise Pollution Prevention Regulation” and began soliciting public opinion, which will continue until October 15. The draft regulation includes not only noise from industrial or construction sources, but also various policies to regulate noise in everyday life. In particular, it strictly prohibits playing audio from devices such as mobile phones or tablet PCs externally while using public transportation such as subways and buses.

Up to 210,000 Won Fine for Causing Noise on Public Transportation

Until now, in China, it has been common for passengers on public transportation to make phone calls on speaker mode or watch videos with loud audio, creating discomfort for others despite being in public spaces. Authorities have determined that such behavior not only causes extreme fatigue for passengers but also hinders their ability to hear important boarding and alighting announcements.

Police officer patrolling the platform in China. Photo by China Daily

Under the new regulation, if someone is caught playing electronic devices loudly on public transportation, they will be warned by staff members. If they ignore the warning and continue causing noise, they will be handed over to public security authorities, where they may receive a warning and a fine of 200 to 1,000 yuan (about 40,000 to 210,000 won).

Passengers are looking at their smartphones inside a Chinese subway train. Photo by China Daily

The draft regulation also covers the regulation of other public noise sources, such as playing loud music and dancing in public spaces (known as “Guangchangwu,” a culture in which middle-aged and older women, mainly in their 50s and 60s, gather in public squares to dance), excessive noise from indoor renovations, and noise from modified vehicles.

'Line N Villain' Issue in Domestic Subways Also Serious

As China begins a full-scale campaign against noise on public transportation, there is growing frustration at similar nuisance behavior on domestic subways in Korea.

In the past, on social media, a video of a man, known as “the Gyeongui-Jungang Line Thousand-Won Guy,” chasing after female passengers and persistently begging for 1,000 won went viral and sparked public outrage. Recently, another user complained, “A man on the subway was playing YouTube loudly on his smartphone speaker, so everyone was forced to listen to an AI-generated short-form narration until he got off.”

A German influencer playing loud music and dancing inside the train. TikTok capture @simon.bth

On September 13, a German TikToker posted a video showing himself playing loud music and dancing with a large speaker inside a Seoul subway train, causing controversy. He is known for performing backflips and other acts with a speaker during rush hour (4–6 PM) at major stations such as Samgakji and Sinchon, which are often crowded, drawing complaints from passengers.

What Are the Legal Standards for Punishing Noise on Public Transportation?

The fatigue passengers experience due to noise on trains is clearly demonstrated by the numbers. According to Seoul Metro, there were 7,520 complaints related to noise inside trains in the first half of 2026 (January to June). After recording 8,049 complaints in 2022 and 8,729 in 2023, the annual number surpassed 10,000 for the first time last year.

So how is noise on public transportation handled under Korean law? Under the Railway Safety Act, disruptive behavior such as abusive language, smoking, or loud noise in trains is strictly prohibited, and violators can be fined up to 1 million won.

Images searched for 'Subway Villain' captured. Thread screenshot

However, there are criticisms that the standard is vague, as the law only refers to “loud noise” or “disturbance,” making it difficult to immediately impose fines for playing audio through a smartphone speaker or holding regular phone conversations.

Seoul Metro etiquette guidelines recommend using vibration mode on mobile phones, keeping calls short and quiet, and wearing earphones. Additionally, the metropolitan railway passenger transport terms of service state that staff may refuse transport or order passengers to disembark if their behavior causes harm to others.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.