Gwangju Seo-gu, Comprehensive Cleanup of Illegal Balloon Advertisements in Sangmu District

Published 03 May.2023 13:31(KST)

Seo-gu, Gwangju Metropolitan City (Mayor Kim Ikang) announced on the 3rd that it conducted a mass removal of illegal balloon advertisements in the commercial district of Sangmu District.

Illegal Advertisement Cleanup Photo [Photo by Seogu]

Balloon advertisements, also known as air lights or air signs, are outdoor advertisements that use electricity to power motors and lights. According to the Gwangju Metropolitan City Outdoor Advertisement Ordinance, which prohibits the use of electricity for signboards, their installation is generally not allowed. However, they have been proliferating in commercial areas such as Sangmu District, causing residents inconvenience due to electrical safety hazards, obstruction of pedestrian traffic, and deterioration of urban aesthetics.

Earlier, Seo-gu used a sign size measurement app and equipment on the 10th of last month to identify the number, location, installation companies, and sizes of balloon advertisements and compiled a list.

Subsequently, they issued two warnings to the advertisers for voluntary removal and proceeded with actual administrative enforcement for balloon advertisements that were not removed.

Seo-gu plans to impose fines on the removed advertisements and return them afterward. If more than one month passes from the last day of the public notice, ownership will transfer to Seo-gu Office and the advertisements will be disposed of.

Starting with this removal, warnings and removals will also be carried out for balloon advertisements in frequently complained areas such as Pungam District and the food alley in Geumho District.

A Seo-gu official stated, “We will strictly crack down on and organize illegal advertisements without exception to ensure a safe and clean landscape in Seo-gu.”