Nowon-gu, Dangerously Neglected Ownerless Signs Removed for Free

Summer Flood and Wind Disaster Preparedness: Maintenance and Free Removal of Muju Signs and Old Signs Threatening Pedestrian Safety... Building Owners or Managers Can Submit Removal Applications In-Person Until the 31st

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Nowon-gu (District Mayor Oh Seung-rok) will remove old and dangerous signs that have been left unattended for a long time in preparation for the upcoming summer monsoon and other wind and flood disasters.

The reason the district is carrying out this project is that, although it is generally the advertiser's responsibility to remove signs due to relocation or business closure, the recent increase in small business closures caused by the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) and economic downturn has resulted in many signs being effectively abandoned.

Old and damaged signs not only spoil the urban landscape but also pose a significant threat to pedestrian safety by causing accidents such as falling due to strong winds in summer.

The procedure for handling unattended old signs is to accept free removal applications until the 31st of this month. Building owners or managers can visit the Urban Landscape Division of the district office (Annex 2nd floor) to submit their applications.

Once the application is received, the district will verify the closure or ownership status, conduct an on-site inspection to assess the condition of the sign, select targets, and then proceed with removal.

Last year, 90 signs were removed.

Since 2019, the district has been conducting a sign improvement project targeting small business owners who are passive about maintaining old and dangerous illegal signs. It provides subsidies ranging from 800,000 to a maximum of 1,200,000 KRW to individual businesses that carry out maintenance themselves.

Last year alone, 17 businesses improved their signs.

Additionally, the district is working on replacing disorderly and proliferated signs with energy-saving LED signs. Last year, it improved signs on 3 buildings and 79 locations with eco-friendly signs, making efforts to maintain outdoor advertisements.

District Mayor Oh Seung-rok said, “Old and abandoned signs spoil the urban landscape and threaten the safety of our residents’ walking paths. We will continue to work hard to create a pleasant and safe city through steady advertisement maintenance projects.”

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