Government Eases Outdoor Advertising Regulations to Support Small Businesses... Excludes 'Digital Shared Signboard' Quantity Restrictions

Announcement of Partial Amendment to Enforcement Decree of Outdoor Advertising Act Allowing Electric-Powered Advertising on Food Trucks

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] In the future, digital shared signboards installed in traditional markets will no longer be subject to quantity restrictions, and mobile food vending vehicles (food trucks) in operation will be allowed to use electricity for advertising.

On the 12th, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety announced that it has prepared a partial amendment to the Enforcement Decree of the Outdoor Advertising Act containing these details and will give 40 days of public notice starting from the 13th. This amendment was prepared to ease various outdoor advertising regulations to support small business owners, resolve regulatory difficulties in people's livelihoods, and promote the growth of the outdoor advertising industry.

The amendment first relaxes regulations on digital outdoor advertising, which has recently been spotlighted as a promising field due to new technology development and increased advertising demand. Previously, digital video outdoor advertisements were restricted near traffic signals for safety reasons, but digital advertisements displayed on public facilities are now recognized as an exception and can be advertised. Additionally, to expand advertising opportunities for traditional markets and small business owners, digital shared signboards installed in traditional markets that promote tenant stores and small business owners are excluded from signboard quantity regulations.

Regulations on advertising using transportation means, which had many demands for private regulation improvements due to the emergence of new advertising methods and improvements in advertising material technology, will also be eased. Generally, electric-powered advertising is prohibited on transportation means, but food trucks in operation have a lower risk of advertisement detachment, so electric-powered advertising will be allowed. Furthermore, full-body wrapping advertisements including commercial ads, which were previously only allowed for in-house ads on aircraft, will now be permitted, and commercial advertising will also be allowed on shared bicycles, which were not previously subject to advertising installation.

Regulations on outdoor advertisements installed and operated by local governments will also be relaxed. Boundary guidance signs between local governments, which previously had no legal basis, will be incorporated as 'public purpose advertisements' so that local governments can install them as needed. Also, due to the banner display period regulation (within 15 days), banners installed on designated bulletin boards had to be collectively removed after the period expired, but from now on, local government heads will be able to autonomously set the display period according to demand.

Meanwhile, the amendment specifically stipulates matters delegated to the enforcement decree when the Outdoor Advertising Act is amended. It allows the free installation of advertisements that guarantee the normal activities of political parties, but to protect residents' living environments, signs issued by local government heads must be attached to banners and installed within 14 days.

Choi Hoon, Director of the Local Autonomy and Decentralization Office, said, “This amendment to the Enforcement Decree of the Outdoor Advertising Act actively reflects the regulatory improvement demands from the front lines,” and added, “We hope it will help the related industry and small business owners who have been stagnant due to COVID-19.” He continued, “We will continue to actively collect opinions from the private sector and local governments and work on improving related regulations.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.