Seoul City Steps in to Clean Up 'Inappropriate' Bus Ads

Published on 2013/01/19 | Source

The Seoul Metropolitan Government said on Sunday it is prohibiting buses from carrying advertisements with "socially undesirable content", or which look to be "extravagant" or "obscene".

The municipal government has prohibited ads promoting alcoholic beverages on the outside of buses since September 2011, but its non-binding regulations had little impact. It has now decided it will censor them before granting its approval.

It is especially targeting ads that look to be exaggerating the effects of plastic surgery or treatment for erectile dysfunction, those featuring obscene pictures or phrases, and those that are either politically or religiously sensitive.

Under the stricter regulations, bus operators will have to pay 1.2 percent of their total advertising revenue a day for any violations.