Hampyeong County in the Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City has found that nearly half of its outdoor advertisements are unlicensed or unreported. The county plans to legalize 1,703 of these advertisements, which meet legal requirements, over a four-month period starting in September.
According to Hampyeong County, a comprehensive survey conducted from April to June identified over 5,300 outdoor advertisements, of which 2,679 were deemed legal, accounting for 51% of the total.
The remaining 2,621 advertisements (49%) were identified as illegal, lacking the necessary permits or reporting procedures.
To address this issue, the county will implement a 'Legalization Period for Unlicensed and Unreported Outdoor Advertisements' from September 1 to December 31.
The legalization initiative will focus on the 1,703 illegal advertisements that meet current legal standards but have not completed the necessary permit or reporting processes. This includes fixed outdoor advertisements such as wall signs, pole signs, protruding signs, and rooftop signs.
However, to align with the purpose of legalizing existing unlicensed advertisements, any signs installed after July 2026 will be excluded from this initiative.
To encourage self-reporting, the county will waive all fees associated with permits and reporting during the legalization period. However, safety inspection fees will still need to be paid separately.
To facilitate the reporting process, Hampyeong County will establish a dedicated window in the Regional Development and Urban Regeneration Team at the county office.
Advertisers or business owners wishing to report can submit an application along with a building usage consent form, a location map, and site photos.
After the legalization period ends, the county plans to take administrative action against any unreported illegal advertisements in accordance with relevant laws. Violations may incur fines of up to 5 million won under the Act on the Management of Outdoor Advertisements and Promotion of the Outdoor Advertising Industry.
Lee Jong-il, head of the Regional Development and Urban Regeneration Team, stated, “This legalization measure aims to bring outdoor advertisements that have been in a regulatory blind spot into compliance, ensuring public safety and enhancing the urban landscape. We hope that all eligible advertisers and business owners will take advantage of the fee waiver period to report without fail.”
Prior to the legalization period, Hampyeong County will send out notifications to eligible parties and utilize county newsletters and banners to inform them about the reporting procedures and timeline.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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