Seocho-gu Takes Action to Eradicate Illegal Banners Around Gangnam Station Area
No Grounds for Crackdown, So Unable to Act...Developing Maintenance Plan to Resolve
Nation's First Practical Council Formed Among District Office, Court, Prosecutor's Office, and Police
The scene of illegal banners installed at Gangnam Station Intersection (left) and the scene after removal. Provided by Seocho-gu.
The banner at Gangnam Station intersection, which was filled with insults and slanders against specific individuals and caused public outrage, has been removed after several years. Seocho-gu, Seoul (Mayor Jeon Seong-su) announced on the 9th that it recently cleaned up illegal assembly and protest banners that were rampant along major roads such as Gangnam Station, damaging the cityscape, and has embarked on realizing ‘Law-abiding Seocho.’
Along with this, Seocho-gu has formed the nation’s first practical consultative body involving the district office, courts, prosecution, and police to regulate advertisements, aiming to prevent ‘cunning assemblies’ and to protect citizens’ legitimate rights of expression while strictly responding to illegal activities.
Seocho-gu stated, "The realization of ‘Law-abiding Seocho,’ including the cleanup of illegal assembly and protest banners, is a key focus of the 8th elected district administration," and added, "After more than two years of continuous persuasion and consultation, the illegal banners and tents that had long been rampant at Gangnam Station intersection were removed last month."
The tents and banners in question had been used for years as slanderous tools after only notifying the relevant police station of the assembly or protest, and were posted for extended periods at locations with heavy foot traffic. Although complaints from nearby residents and visitors requesting their removal were incessant, no action had been taken. Advertisements reported as assemblies to the police were classified as exempt from Article 8 of the Outdoor Advertising Act (allowing display or installation without district office permission or notification), thus excluded from cleanup targets. The district office also had no clear grounds for cracking down on illegal banners at Gangnam Station intersection, causing difficulties.
However, in response to repeated complaints, Seocho-gu obtained legal advice from a lawyer confirming that removal is possible ‘when banners are hung without any assembly or protesters present,’ and in August devised a plan for ‘comprehensive cleanup of protest banners,’ working with Gangnam-gu and Seocho Police Station to proceed with preliminary administrative enforcement procedures and find a firm response.
Persistent persuasion for voluntary removal was also carried out. These efforts bore fruit, resulting in the removal of about 20 illegal banners and one tent at Gangnam Station Exit 8 (Seocho-gu) and Exit 1 (Gangnam-gu) on the 14th of last month.
Previously, Seocho-gu also removed about 50 illegal banners around the Supreme Court main gate on Seocho-daero, where illegal banners were rampant just like at Gangnam Station intersection, through administrative enforcement in August. The remaining assembly and protest banners around Beopwon-ro are planned to be resolved through consultations with related parties.
The district is reviewing system improvements for party banners and assembly protest banners filling major roads under the pretext of ‘freedom of expression’ and ‘legitimate activities’ according to relevant laws. While livelihood-related promotional banners are fined more than 300,000 KRW per banner, many residents pointed out that it seems undesirable in terms of fairness to exclude legal restrictions on party and protest banners filled with ‘insults and slanders against specific individuals.’
Seocho-gu explained, “To directly reflect these residents’ demands, we have formed the nation’s first practical consultative body involving related institutions (Seocho District Office, courts, prosecution, police) to address disorderly advertisements,” and added, “We will recommend that related agencies such as the police strengthen prior review of large tents and banners containing defamatory expressions even at the stage of assembly and protest notification, and we plan to propose amendments to related laws such as the ‘Assembly and Demonstration Act’ to the government.”
Meanwhile, the district also issued multiple correction orders and notices for voluntary cleanup regarding an illegal waste disposal facility that had been operating illegally for about 20 years near Heunin Village (1-657) in Naegok-dong, and took strict legal measures for administrative enforcement. The area had been severely damaging the cityscape due to indiscriminate abandonment of scrap yards and illegal dumping of waste for decades. Ultimately, due to failure to voluntarily clean up, administrative enforcement was prepared in March.
The illegal waste disposal company filed an administrative lawsuit to cancel the enforcement, but the district actively responded by having all related departments appear in court, won the case, and achieved voluntary cleanup by the company.
Additionally, in March of this year, the district completed large-scale administrative enforcement against scrap yards and recycling centers illegally occupying Seoul city property at 1323-9 Seocho-dong, and is currently proceeding with plans to use the site for parking lots and resident convenience facilities.
Mayor Jeon Seong-su stated, “We will firmly respond to illegal acts and facilities that damage the street landscape and cause discomfort to citizens,” and added, “We will continue to do our best to establish a law-abiding Seocho that residents trust.”
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