Aging signage, illegal banners and youth-harmful advertisements targeted
Seoul's Yongsan-gu announced Monday it will conduct a sweeping crackdown on illegal advertisements near elementary schools through Sept. 23 to create a safer commuting environment for students as the second semester gets underway.
The campaign, which began Monday, Aug. 24, aims to reduce students' exposure to harmful content and prevent pedestrian safety accidents by clearing illegal and substandard advertising materials around schools. The main targets are aging and deteriorating signage, sexually suggestive advertisements harmful to minors, and banners and sandwich boards that obstruct pedestrian movement.
The district will focus its efforts on 31 school zones and areas surrounding education environment protection zones. School zones cover a 300-meter radius from the main entrance of kindergartens and elementary schools, while education environment protection zones extend 200 meters from a school's boundary.
The campaign will also address signage safety in preparation for heavy rain and strong winds. Business owners with aging or deteriorating signs near schools will first be advised to make repairs voluntarily, while signs posing an immediate pedestrian safety risk will be secured or removed on the spot. Areas outside the designated zones will also be included if they pose a threat to students' commuting safety or risk exposing them to harmful content.
Meanwhile, last year the district installed anti-posting covers on streetlight poles and utility poles along major roads, including the Yongni-dan-gil area, to deter illegal advertisement placement.
"We will continue to conduct regular inspections and maintenance so that students can live and learn in a safe and pleasant environment," Yongsan-gu District Mayor Kim Kyung-dae said.
ikson@heraldcorp.com
