The government will draw up management guidelines for banners that contain hate speech that makes citizens frown. Based on the Outdoor Advertising Act pending in The National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee, it will prepare measures to remove hate banners and abolish special provisions for political party banners. In particular, ahead of the June 3 local elections next year, it plans to work with the National Election Commission to establish order for election banners.
The Ministry of the Interior and Safety (MOIS) on the 17th reported measures to eradicate hate banners with these details during a presidential briefing at the Sejong Convention Center in Sejong. The president said at the briefing, "(Banners containing hate speech) exploit administrative loopholes to shame the whole society," adding, "They fuel unnecessary conflict and amount to an abuse of authority and rights."
On this, Minister Yoon Ho-jung of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety (MOIS) said, "To block banners with hate speech, amendments to the Outdoor Advertising Act and the Political Parties Act are necessary," and reported, "There are limits because the bills have not yet passed."
In response, the president said, "(Even before the law passes) it is right to create guidelines and conduct crackdowns," adding, "If that position is made clear, local governments will be able to conduct crackdowns with confidence."
The president continued, "Up to now, leaving everything unattended has led to all sorts of bizarre banners being put up," and said, "Under the pretext of individual freedom, or because those put up by political parties (cannot be restricted), it does not mean you can put up banners that make the public frown without limit."
The president also urged measures to address acts that insult foreign tourists. The president said, "Insulting tourists to their faces is an issue tied to the nation's dignity." The president added, "It seems the police have responded well lately and such incidents have decreased a lot," and asked that authorities remain vigilant going forward.