Gangnam-gu Blocks Illegal Advertisements with 'Bomb Call (Automated Phone Guidance)'

Warning Calls Every 5 to 20 Minutes to Numbers on Illegal Flyers, Posters, and Banners

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Gangnam-gu (District Mayor Jeong Soon-gyun) will operate an "Automated Telephone Guidance Service" (commonly known as bomb calls) starting next month to eradicate illegal advertisements that spoil the urban landscape.

This system, operated for the first time this year, automatically calls the phone numbers listed on illegal advertisements such as flyers, posters, banners, and business cards every 5 to 20 minutes using a computer program, continuously informing them that their actions violate the Outdoor Advertising Act and notifying them that they are subject to administrative sanctions.

The sending number for the automated calls changes with each call, and the district has prepared about 200 random numbers in case the companies block the numbers.

Additionally, phone numbers on obscene or gambling-related advertisements will be requested to be suspended by telecommunications companies to maximize enforcement effectiveness.

Kim Hyun-jung, head of the Urban Planning Division, said, "About 2 million illegal advertisements were detected in the district last year," adding, "We will continue to lead the establishment of a healthy advertising culture through various projects aimed at eradicating illegal activities by improving advertisers' awareness rather than unilateral crackdowns."