Seoul to Intensify Crackdown on Illegal Banners During Election Season... School Routes to Be Inspected

639 District Collection Incentive Staff Deployed

Comprehensive Inspections Through June 2 for Maximum Prevention Efforts

The Seoul Metropolitan Government will begin clearing illegal banners that may proliferate ahead of the nationwide local elections scheduled for June 3. This measure comes in response to growing concerns over public safety and damage to the urban landscape amid the heightened atmosphere of the election season.

According to the city government on May 14, Seoul is conducting a "comprehensive inspection and removal of illegal advertisements" through June 2. In particular, during the official campaign period from May 21 to June 2, the city plans to intensify crackdowns and focus on managing illegal banners.

Removing illegal banners. The Asia Business Daily

First, the city will implement a "dual response system" by deploying 639 district collection incentive staff members along with the Seoul Metropolitan Government’s mobile maintenance team. The current operation will focus on a community-based approach, utilizing district collection incentive staff, who are local residents familiar with the area. These staff members will patrol residential neighborhoods, alleys, commercial districts, and back roads—areas that are difficult to monitor regularly. In addition to collecting illegal banners, they will conduct on-site maintenance at least once a day and respond promptly to repeated postings of illegal banners.

The primary targets for removal are banners illegally placed on roadside trees, utility poles, streetlights, and fences. Advertisements that obstruct the view of pedestrians and drivers are also a major focus. In vulnerable areas such as crosswalks, school routes, and children's safety zones, collection incentive staff—who are well-acquainted with the local environment—will be the first to inspect and proactively remove illegal banners.

District collection incentive staff are field personnel responsible for the swift maintenance of areas that are blind spots for enforcement. They routinely inspect illegal banners around residential areas and increase patrols in spots where citizen complaints are frequent.

Despite ongoing collection and removal efforts led by the districts, if illegal banners are repeatedly reposted or pose significant safety risks, Seoul will deploy its mobile maintenance team for targeted crackdowns. The city aims to improve the effectiveness of illegal advertisement management by combining routine, community-based maintenance with a mobile, rapid-response system.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government’s mobile maintenance team will focus on areas that require broad and rapid action, such as locations with habitual repeat postings and major arterial roads. Since 2016, joint mobile maintenance teams from the city and districts have been working to remove illegal banners. Last year, they cracked down on a total of 5,810 illegal banners, including 992 related to political parties and 1,619 for commercial purposes.

While the district collection incentive program is responsible for the ongoing maintenance of illegal banners in residential neighborhoods and alleys, the Seoul Metropolitan Government’s mobile maintenance team is dedicated to swift responses in areas with high traffic and repeated violations. The city plans to deploy the mobile maintenance team flexibly according to on-site conditions, enabling immediate action against surges of illegal banners posted within short periods.

During the election period, Seoul will also strengthen on-site inspections regarding the locations, display methods, and compliance with regulations for banners. If any violations are identified, the city will promptly remove the banners and work to minimize visual obstruction and harm to the urban landscape, maintaining a safe environment for pedestrians and traffic. Even before and after the election period, Seoul will continue to monitor installation sites, display methods, and height standards in accordance with the Outdoor Advertisement Act and its enforcement decree, ensuring ongoing inspections and on-site maintenance of illegal advertisements.

Choi Inkyu, Seoul's Director of Design Policy, stated, "While providing information about election candidates is important, the safety of citizens must remain the highest priority," adding, "We will do our utmost to manage the urban landscape and prevent accidents so that citizens can live safely and without inconvenience."

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