Recently, opinions have been divided in Changwon, Gyeongnam, after an ordinance was revised to allow the installation of outdoor banners only during events, rallies, or demonstrations.
The Changwon City Council passed the amendment to the "Changwon City Ordinance on the Management of Outdoor Advertisements and the Promotion of the Outdoor Advertising Industry" last September.
The amendment stipulates that "banners used for lawful events or rallies may only be displayed and installed during the actual period when the event or rally is being held."
A press conference urging the immediate removal of banners placed outside the actual rally time and location is being held by Park Seungyeop, a member of the Changwon City Council in Gyeongnam, representing the People Power Party. Photo by Se Ryeong Lee
Park Seungyeop, a member of the Changwon City Council from the People Power Party who sponsored the amendment, held a press conference at the Changwon City Hall Press Center on the 30th, urging, "Changwon City should immediately remove banners that are displayed outside the actual time and location of rallies or demonstrations."
Assemblyman Park pointed out, "In Changwon, various organizations put up banners related to rallies, but rallies are held only a few times a day for short periods and at limited locations, whereas banners are hung across a very wide area even when rallies are not taking place."
He explained, "According to Article 8 of the Outdoor Advertisements Act, rally banners may be installed as an exception for up to 30 days, but there are frequent cases where rally banners are left up and neglected, leading the Ministry of Government Legislation to issue an authoritative interpretation that such banners can only be exceptionally permitted at the actual time and location of rallies or demonstrations."
He continued, "Changwon City has shown a passive attitude toward removing or administratively enforcing the removal of banners that are installed when rallies are not being held," criticizing, "As a result, citizens are forced to endure visual fatigue and safety risks."
Assemblyman Park asserted, "The practice of some organizations posting banners without actually holding rallies undermines the intent of the law," adding, "Hiding behind the right to freedom of expression, they are damaging the cityscape and causing harm to public safety and order."
He further demanded, "Changwon City should clarify the criteria for actual rallies and administrative enforcement based on the revised ordinance and the relevant laws and interpretations, thereby guaranteeing both freedom of assembly and citizen safety," and called for "the immediate removal of banners outside the actual time and location of rallies, treating them as illegal banners."
The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions Gyeongnam Headquarters is holding a press conference protesting the removal of banners outside the actual rally time and location. Photo by Lee Seryung
The Gyeongnam Headquarters of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions held a press conference in front of Changwon City Hall, presenting arguments contrary to those of Assemblyman Park.
The union condemned, "Changwon City's forced removal of rally banners is an administrative tyranny that infringes on the constitutionally guaranteed freedoms of expression and assembly, and is a clear act of oppression intended to suppress union activities."
They argued, "The banners of the Hyundai Wia Irregular Workers' Chapter of the Metalworkers' Union, which are being displayed during rallies over the issue of illegal dispatch, are a basic means of expressing workers' intentions and delivering social messages. Cracking down on or removing these banners is an act of suppressing freedom of expression guaranteed by the Constitution and represents the dangerous idea that administrative power stands above the Constitution."
They also stated, "Interpreting the clause requiring banners to be displayed or installed only during the actual period of events or rallies as meaning only a few hours on the day of the rally distorts the essence of the law. The rally period should naturally include the time before and after the event to inform and encourage participation."
Kim Eunhyung, head of the headquarters, urged, "If the timing of banner installation is limited to the event period according to the ordinance, then even the banners promoting the Masan Gagopa Chrysanthemum Festival currently hanging in Changwon Square would have to be removed. The city council should reconsider the ordinance revision, and Changwon City should immediately stop cracking down on banners."
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