Nationwide Crackdown on Illegal Banners Ahead of Chuseok... "Political Party Banners Will Also Be Removed if They Violate Regulations"

[Financial News]  A nationwide crackdown will target illegal banners appearing along roadsides and around traditional markets ahead of the Chuseok holiday. Political party banners will also be subject to removal if they violate rules on the number of banners, display period, location, or other requirements.
The Ministry of the Interior and Safety (MOIS) announced on September 16 that it would conduct a nationwide cleanup of illegal banners with local governments for two weeks, from September 17 to 30.
The inspection will focus on political party banners that violate regulations, unreported holiday-greeting banners, and banners that could threaten the safety of drivers and pedestrians.
Under the current Outdoor Advertising Act, political party banners may be installed without separate notification, up to two per eup, myeon, or dong, for a maximum of 15 days. However, they may not be installed in child protection zones or around firefighting facilities. When placed near intersections or crosswalks, the bottom of a banner must be at least 2.5 meters above the ground so that it does not obstruct the view of pedestrians or drivers.
General banners, unlike political party banners, may be installed only on designated posting facilities after being reported to the relevant local government. Banners containing Chuseok greetings or commercial advertisements are also subject to enforcement if they are installed along roadsides or elsewhere without notification.
Each local government will form joint inspection teams comprising public officials and representatives of local outdoor advertising associations. The teams will focus on major roadsides and intersections, traditional markets, and areas around facilities used by large numbers of people.
If violations are confirmed, authorities may issue correction orders or impose fines. Banners that obstruct the view of vehicles or pedestrians, or that could fall in strong winds, will be removed or otherwise dealt with immediately at the site.
Banners containing hateful or defamatory content will also be inspected. MOIS plans to address such banners under the Guidelines for Applying Prohibited Advertisements, which have been in effect since November last year.
Before the inspections, MOIS and local governments notified the central and city- and provincial-level branches of each political party of the cleanup policy and requested their cooperation. They also instructed outdoor advertising businesses to produce and install banners in accordance with the relevant regulations.  Citizens can report illegal advertisements through the Safety e-Report app.


[email protected] Lee Bo-mi Reporter