Seoul Facilities Corporation Replaces Underground Arcade Ads with Semi-Noncombustible Materials

Developed in-house and applied at six locations

Advertisements in major underground shopping arcades in Seoul are being replaced with semi-noncombustible materials that do not catch fire easily. The change follows concerns that advertisements containing some combustible materials, such as paper and plastic, could intensify a fire.

Advertising displays installed as part of improvements to the underground shopping arcade at Gangnam Station. Provided by Seoul Facilities Corporation.

Seoul Facilities Corporation said on October 30 that it is working to improve advertising facilities at six underground shopping arcades—Gangnam Station, Jamsil Plaza, Jamsil Station, Yeongdeungpo Station, Yeongdeungpo Rotary and Gangnam Terminal—and at nine connecting passages. Improvements have been completed at five of the arcades and all nine passages, while work is underway at the Gangnam Terminal underground shopping arcade.

After finding that combustible materials were being used in advertisements, the corporation drew on its facility maintenance experience and construction materials to develop a semi-noncombustible advertising sheet. The sheet passed performance tests conducted by an accredited testing institution and was recognized for its semi-noncombustible performance: it does not catch fire easily and slows the spread of fire. The corporation began applying stricter material safety standards in stages during advertising bids and contract renewals.

The corporation also upgraded the advertising facilities themselves. It introduced semi-noncombustible LED display boards and replaced plastic advertising covers with tempered glass to reduce the risk of flames spreading. Since tempered glass is heavier than plastic, the corporation reviewed the safety of the installation structures and established design standards.

The corporation also checks whether the standards are followed on site. Before installation, it reviews material documents and test results, and during construction it verifies that materials meeting the standards are actually being used. It plans to extend improvements to advertising facilities using noncombustible and semi-noncombustible materials to other underground shopping arcades.

“Because underground shopping arcades are spaces used daily by many citizens, we have carefully applied fire safety standards to even a single advertisement,” said Han Gukyoung, chairman of the corporation. “We will continue to do our best to create safe underground shopping arcades that citizens can use with peace of mind.”

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