Replacement of Old Signs on Streets in Seongsu-dong, Seongdong-gu

Published 10 Nov.2020 06:46(KST)

Seongsu-dong Commercial Area's 90 Aging Disorderly Signs Redesigned to Enhance Streetscape... Store Owners and Resident Representatives Form 'Sign Improvement Residents Committee' to Reflect Residents' Opinions and Create Sign Streets Highlighting Local Characteristics

Replacement of Old Signs on Streets in Seongsu-dong, Seongdong-gu

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Seongdong-gu (Mayor Jeong Wono) is actively promoting the ‘Seongsu-dong Signboard Improvement Project,’ which involves completely replacing about 90 old signboards in the Seongsu-dong area, a central hot place in Seoul, with three-dimensional design signboards.

This project targets 60 stores around Achasan-ro 7-gil and Seongsu-il-ro 12-gil in Seongsu 2-ga 3-dong, focusing on organizing some disorderly and rampant unauthorized illegal advertisements and improving signboard designs to create open streets and enhance urban aesthetics.

Up to 2.5 million KRW per business will be supported for replacement costs.

To encourage residents’ voluntary participation from the design and planning stages of the signboards, the district formed the ‘Signboard Improvement Residents Committee’ last September, consisting of store owners, building owners, and resident representatives in the project area.

The committee discussed designs that reflect the characteristics of the area, took on the role of subsidy operators regarding cost burdens and post-maintenance due to signboard replacement, and gained enthusiastic responses from store owners, leading to voluntary participation from over 70% of the target businesses.

Accordingly, on the 6th, the district replaced flat panel-type signboards with three-dimensional ones for 17 stores in the first signboard installation construction, enhancing clean design and readability, and plans to carry out additional construction in three phases by the end of December.

The district plans to raise the consent rate to over 90% by visiting sites together with non-participating businesses to allow them to see the effects of signboard replacement.

A district official said, “While maintaining uniformity within the guidelines, we held continuous consultations with the residents’ committee and store owners to improve signboards that reflect Seongsu-dong’s unique local characteristics. Durable materials and parts will be used in signboard production to extend their lifespan, and after project completion, the installation companies will conduct frequent defect repairs and regular monitoring to ensure the project’s effects are sustained.”

In addition to supporting signboard replacement, the district also supports exemption from outdoor advertisement reporting and permit fees, as well as cleaning and washing during illegal signboard removal.

Jeong Wono, Mayor of Seongdong-gu, said, “We cheer on the voluntary participation of store owners and hope that beautiful and distinctive signboards suited to the area will further highlight Seongsu-dong’s charm and contribute to revitalizing the local economy.”