Neon streets of Times Square to be seen in Korea`s major cities

New York’s Times Square and London`s Piccadilly Circus are well-known for their streets full of colorful neon signs. Large outdoor neon billboards are seen in various forms, using state-of-the-art display technologies that catch the eyes of tourists more than anything else in the streets.

Koreans will be able to enjoy large outdoor neon billboards in their major cities such as Seoul and Busan. The Ministry of the Interior announced on Monday that installation of neon videos and ads in a variety of forms will be allowed in designated areas. The revised act intends to loosen regulations on the types, forms, colors, and places of outdoor advertisements.

Therefore, municipal governments may now apply for the designation for downtowns of their cities so that they can install commercial advertisements in various shapes without strict regulation. The act will also provide a legal foundation for using of LED lights and touch screens as components.

The ministry has also strengthened safety standards giving themselves an authority to remove billboards considered to be in immediate danger of falling without notice. “The revised regulation will help promote jobs in relevant divisions and vitalize local economies, as well as enhance safety management,” said Kim Sung-ryeol, a senior officer at the ministry.

taeho@donga.com