Gangnam-gu Removes Long-Abandoned Problematic Rally Banners

Establishment of the First Banner Ordinance by Basic Local Governments
33 Non-Assembly Banners Removed Last Month at Gangnam Station and Seolleung Station

Before and after images of the removal of the protest banner at Seolleung Station. Provided by Gangnam-gu.

Gangnam-gu, Seoul (District Mayor Jo Seong-myeong) announced on the 14th that it has revised its ordinance for the first time among local governments nationwide to address the long-neglected problem of troublesome assembly banners, and throughout September, it has removed all banners around Gangnam Station and Seolleung Station.

Under the current Outdoor Advertising Act, assembly banners can be posted without separate permission or notification as long as the assembly is reported to the local police station. However, this has been exploited by hanging banners for extended periods without actually holding assemblies, damaging the cityscape and even threatening road safety. Despite this, there was no legal basis under current law to remove such banners, making it difficult to respond.

Seeing that such loophole abuses could not be tolerated, the district revised its ordinance in March by adding Article 3-3, "Display Method of Assembly Banners," to the "Ordinance on the Management of Outdoor Advertisements and the Promotion of the Outdoor Advertising Industry in Gangnam-gu, Seoul." Banners are now only allowed to be installed during the actual period of assemblies or events, and legal grounds have been established to take necessary measures if violated.

After the ordinance revision, a large-scale cleanup was carried out on the banners around Gangnam Station and Seolleung Station, areas with the most complaints. There were 17 banners scattered around exits 1 and 2 of Gangnam Station and nearby roads. To effectively manage the area, the district cooperated with Seocho-gu and requested voluntary removal from assembly reporters.

Additionally, to prevent sham assemblies where no actual gathering takes place, inspections were conducted day and night from the 6th to the 14th of last month. As a result, the assembly reporter voluntarily removed 4 banners on the 14th, and on the 15th, the district and Suseo Police Station cooperated to remove the remaining 13 banners.

Similarly, 16 banners left around exit 4 of Seolleung Station were also subject to voluntary removal guidance to the assembly reporter, and on the 27th, after confirming no assembly was held on site, all were removed. The district plans to strengthen daily on-site inspections and promptly verify actual assemblies to prevent reinstallation of banners in the future.

District Mayor Jo Seong-myeong stated, "We have brought about substantial change through ordinance revision and thorough cleanup to solve the banner problem that caused inconvenience to residents for a long time. We will continue to actively crack down on illegal banners and other loophole abuses to maintain the cityscape and create a safe living environment for residents."