Youngnam Kim, CEO of Thessen West Power Plant, Proposes
Need for Relaxed Outdoor Advertisement Regulations
"Nighttime Scenery Improvement and Commercial District Revitalization" Possible
Youngnam Kim, CEO of Thessen West Power Plant
A proposal has been made to create a symbolic space capable of transforming the overall atmosphere and image of the Sangmu District in Gwangju to revitalize the local commercial area.
Youngnam Kim, CEO of Thessen West Power Plant, stated, "Sangmu District is one of Gwangju's main commercial and business hubs, but it is currently perceived as a place people simply pass through rather than stay. It's time to move beyond simply increasing the number of signs and instead adopt strategies that create memorable and impressive scenes."
As an alternative, Kim suggested establishing a "media landmark" by utilizing the Outdoor Advertisement Free Display Zone system.
The Free Display Zone is a system that relaxes regulations on outdoor advertisements within a designated area, allowing for the installation of large digital screens and media facades. This approach has already proven effective in transforming both the commercial landscape and the urban image in major city centers across Korea.
For example, the area around COEX in Gangnam, Seoul, has become a major tourist attraction as foot traffic has increased around large media facades. Similarly, Myeongdong in Seoul is working to improve its nighttime scenery and revive its commercial district through the designation of Free Display Zones.
Kim explained, "What these areas have in common is that large media screens serve not just as advertising boards, but as iconic faces of the city and platforms where people gather. If Sangmu District also establishes a symbolic media landmark, it could increase both the number of visitors and their length of stay, which would naturally lead to the revitalization of the nighttime economy."
He also emphasized that a media landmark could feature not only commercial advertisements but also a wide range of content such as Gwangju's history and culture, local festivals and cultural events, sports events, media art, and disaster or traffic information. This would transform it from a "viewing billboard" into an "experiential urban space."
He added, "If residents, merchants, and property owners participate together to discuss operational direction and content, it could reduce conflict and have a positive impact on the local economy by attracting outside visitors and tourists. The key to revitalizing Sangmu District is not scale, but first impressions and memories. Creating a scene that people immediately associate with Sangmu District is the real competitive edge, and establishing a media landmark is a practical way to achieve this."
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