Yongsan District Completes Major Cleanup of Protest Banners in Front of War Memorial

Removal of Abandoned Items Following Presidential Office's Return to Cheong Wa Dae

Yongsan District in Seoul (District Mayor Park Heeyoung) announced on the 22nd that it has completed the removal and maintenance of protest banners, placards (pickets), tents, and other items that remained in front of the War Memorial this month. The area, which had been crowded with various rallies and protests near the Presidential Office, has now been restored to a clean state.

Before and after the maintenance of the protest banner in front of the War Memorial. Provided by Yongsan District Office.

After the Presidential Office was relocated to the Ministry of National Defense in Yongsan under the previous administration, dozens of protest banners and placards began to be installed around street trees in front of the War Memorial alongside various rallies and protests. Unlike ordinary banners, protest banners are not subject to mandatory reporting to the district office under the Outdoor Advertising Act, nor are they regulated in terms of installation locations. As a result, they had not been subject to district enforcement until now.

Around December 29 of last year, when the Presidential Office returned to Cheong Wa Dae, the various rallies that had continued for several years in front of the War Memorial gradually decreased, and almost all regular protest participants disappeared. Only the banners and placards used by protestors remained at the site, left abandoned.

The district explained that, with regular rallies no longer taking place, it determined that these items could no longer be considered lawful advertisements under the Outdoor Advertising Act. As complaints and requests for cleanup from nearby residents increased, the district began a full-scale maintenance effort. A district official stated, "In accordance with the Outdoor Advertising Act and our own guidelines for managing protest banners, we began a comprehensive cleanup of these items."

At the end of last year, the district reconfirmed through prior consultation with Yongsan Police Station that there were no ongoing protest activities in the area. Immediately after the consultation, an on-site inspection was conducted, and all banners that were severely damaged or posed safety risks were promptly removed.

For the remaining banners after the initial removal, the district issued three voluntary removal orders in accordance with its own enforcement guidelines. After the third notice, the police received a written consent for removal from the protest organizers, covering all banners and other items. Accordingly, the district collected all remaining banners and items, completing the final cleanup in front of the War Memorial.

Going forward, the district plans to fully guarantee the installation of protest banners in accordance with the Outdoor Advertising Act but will actively guide and enforce regulations to prevent unattended banners from being left behind when no protest activities are taking place.

Park Heeyoung, Mayor of Yongsan District, stated, "As the area in front of the War Memorial has long been a source of inconvenience and safety concerns for residents, we completed the cleanup after thoroughly reviewing the site conditions, laws, and guidelines. While we will continue to fully guarantee freedom of assembly, we will responsibly manage the area to prevent banners and other items from being left behind when no protests are occurring, so as not to harm the urban environment or threaten public safety."