Seoul Jung-gu to Conduct Comprehensive Survey of Over 7,000 Protruding Signboards Starting This Month

Voluntary Maintenance Encouraged... Unauthorized Installation Owners Fined Roadside Penalties

Seoul Jung-gu Office building.

Jung-gu, Seoul, will conduct a comprehensive survey of protruding signboards within the district by November to encourage voluntary maintenance. Business owners who installed signboards without paying the road occupancy fee will be fined a “road compensation fee” amounting to 20% more than the road occupancy fee based on the survey results.

Protruding signboards refer to advertisements installed protruding from the walls of buildings. All advertisements are subject to permission or notification under the “Outdoor Advertising Management Act,” and protruding signboards, in particular, are considered to use the road and therefore must pay the road occupancy fee.

Illegally installed protruding signboards harm the cityscape and can threaten pedestrian safety. Accordingly, the district conducts an annual comprehensive survey to assess the current status.

The comprehensive survey is carried out by selecting investigators who are residents familiar with the local situation or have experience in conducting protruding signboard surveys. Investigators visit businesses using protruding signboards directly to distribute advance notices to owners and investigate details such as usage period, occupancy area, and whether the property is private. If the signboard is judged to be an illegal advertisement, voluntary maintenance will be encouraged, and guidance on the permission process will be provided.

Meanwhile, last year, the district surveyed 7,058 protruding signboards, encouraging owners to voluntarily report and obtain permission. Through the comprehensive survey, 155 protruding signboards were removed, and approximately 200 million KRW in road compensation fees were imposed on 3,443 illegal signboards.