Nearly 6,000 illegal political party banners were recorded in Incheon last year, a significant increase from the previous year.
With the June 3 local elections 80 days away and party banners proliferating across the city, Incheon municipal authorities plan to intensify inspections of outdoor advertising rules and crack down on illegal displays.
On the 15th, city officials reported 5,894 cases last year — roughly a 22% rise from 4,830 the year before.
Under the Outdoor Advertising Act, parties may post up to two banners per town or neighborhood, and each banner may be displayed for a maximum of 15 days. Banners must list the party name, contact information and posting period, and they are prohibited in school zones or other locations where they could endanger pedestrians or traffic.
Despite those rules, violations continue. The city found that most of the banners it recently removed had exceeded their authorized posting periods.
Regulations governing party banners have been revised several times in recent years.
The 2022 amendment to the Outdoor Advertising Act reclassified party banners as "ordinary party activities" that promote party policies or positions on political issues. If a banner meets certain criteria, parties can install it without submitting a separate notice.
But local communities raised concerns that an abundance of banners could threaten pedestrian safety and damage the city's visual environment.
In response, the city adopted the country's first local ordinance regulating party banners the following year, but it was later deemed inconsistent with higher-level law and invalidated.
Afterward, in January 2024 the Outdoor Advertising Act and its enforcement decree were revised, and the city now enforces banner rules in line with national standards.
However, parties are barred from posting banners during the official campaign period. Under the Public Official Election Act, parties may not display banners during the 13-day campaign window from May 21 to June 2.
During that period, only candidate-centered campaign banners are permitted, and they must be approved by the relevant election commission.
The city said it will continue regular inspections for violations, noting that banner installations by parties and candidates typically increase as local elections approach.
/Yejin Park, reporter yejin0613@incheonilbo.com
