The Ministry of the Interior and Safety said on the 23rd it will conduct a three-week intensive inspection and simultaneous cleanup of illegal banners from the 24th through Oct. 17 ahead of the Chuseok holiday.
The move comes in anticipation of an increase in party banners doubling as holiday greetings and general banners. It will also be carried out in connection with the "Korea makeover week" campaign that has been underway since 22nd.
The inspection will cover the number of party banners installed, compliance with display and installation methods, and whether general banners were reported in advance. Under the current Outdoor Advertising Act, party banners may be installed without prior reporting for 15 days, up to two per eup, myeon, and dong, but installation is prohibited around child protection zones and fire-fighting facilities. They must also be installed with a lower-edge clearance of at least 2.5 meters at intersections and crosswalks. General banners must be reported to the competent local government and may be attached only to designated posting facilities.
Local governments will operate joint inspection teams with responsible public officials and members of the Outdoor Advertising Association to prioritize the removal of advertisements that pose safety risks. For violating banners, voluntary removal or relocation will be requested, and if not followed, local governments will forcibly remove them. To expand resident participation, authorities will actively guide simple reporting via the "Safety e-Report."
Vice Minister Kim Min-jae of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety said, "There is significant concern about public inconvenience caused by illegal banners and the rise of hateful and slanderous phrases," adding, "We will work with local governments to curb the proliferation of illegal banners through proactive on-site inspections and cleanup."