Gwangjin-gu Introduces 'Illegal Advertisement Phone Number Automatic Warning Call System'

[Seoul District News] Gwangjin-gu Neutralizes Illegal Advertising Operations by Automatically Sending Warning Calls to Phone Numbers Displayed on Illegal Mobile Advertisements, Creating Repeated Call Busy Status... Jungnang-gu Maintains Long-Neglected Hazardous Signs

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Gwangjin-gu (Mayor Kim Seon-gap) has introduced an ‘Illegal Advertisement Phone Number Automatic Warning Call System’ to block illegal floating advertisements.

This system, also known as a ‘phone bomb,’ automatically makes repeated warning calls to phone numbers displayed on illegal floating advertisements such as illegal banners, posters, illegal loan business cards, and youth-harmful flyers, encouraging the cessation of illegal activities.

When the recipient answers the call, a voice message informs them of the measures and fines related to violations of the Outdoor Advertisement Act, prompting advertisers to recognize the illegality themselves and voluntarily remove the advertisements.

If the illegal advertisements are not voluntarily removed, the system makes calls at intervals of 20 minutes for the first crackdown, 10 minutes for the second, and 5 minutes for the third, keeping the line busy to control the situation.

Additionally, to prevent illegal advertisers from blocking the numbers, about 120 outgoing numbers will be used and changed quarterly.

Besides operating the Illegal Advertisement Phone Number Automatic Warning Call System, the district plans to eradicate illegal floating advertisements by implementing a reward system for collecting illegal advertisements and installing facilities to prevent illegal advertisement posting.

Kim Seon-gap, Mayor of Gwangjin-gu, said, “With the introduction of this system, we expect to improve advertisers’ awareness to prevent illegal acts and enhance the efficiency of illegal advertisement crackdowns. We will continue to do our best to prevent economic damage to residents caused by illegal exaggerated advertisements.”

Jungnang-gu (Mayor Ryu Gyeong-gi) will carry out free removal of dangerous signs left unattended without owners by November to create a safe and clean city.

The dangerous sign removal project was prepared to remove signs that have been left unattended for a long time due to reasons such as business closure or installed without permission, which harm the city’s aesthetics and threaten pedestrian safety.

The district plans to prevent safety accidents caused by typhoons and improve the city’s appearance through the removal project.

The removal project is conducted free of charge to reduce the financial burden of sign removal costs for business owners who have closed due to economic difficulties.

The district will prioritize removing large, old protruding signs that threaten pedestrian safety and old unauthorized signs from long-closed businesses, and will continue maintenance through regular patrols.

Residents wishing to have signs removed can visit the Jungnang-gu Office’s Urban Landscape Division with a sign removal consent form from the building owner or business owner, or apply by phone. If applying by phone, the consent form must be submitted via fax or email.

Ryu Gyeong-gi, Mayor of Jungnang-gu, said, “We will create an environment where residents can walk safely by removing dangerous unattended signs. We will continue to carefully monitor the field for residents’ safety.”

Meanwhile, last year, the district removed a total of 64 ownerless dangerous signs including wall signs, protruding signs, and electronic signs.