Seoul City Council discusses outdoor advertising regulations

Seoul City Council Vice Chairperson Park Hee-jung attended a public hearing regarding the improvement of outdoor advertising systems. While acknowledging the need to revitalize the outdoor advertising industry, Park emphasized a strategic and phased approach to deregulation to prevent negative side effects.

Key issues under discussion include expanding the areas where third-party advertising is permitted on building walls, specifying the scope of relaxed installation standards in certain zones, and increasing the maximum allowable advertising area. Park cautioned against uniform deregulation across all 25 autonomous districts, noting that different areas require different strategies based on their unique characteristics.

Drawing comparisons to international examples, Park cited the impact of large digital signage in Times Square and Shibuya, while also referencing legal actions in Los Angeles and the ‘Clean City Law’ in São Paulo to highlight concerns regarding visual pollution and urban landscape preservation. She suggested implementing changes in commercial areas first to monitor light pollution and resident discomfort before expanding to industrial or residential zones.