On the 6th, Paju City held the ’2024 Paju Sign Culture School As 2011′ in the multi-purpose room of the Citizens’ Center to establish an advanced advertising culture and create a healthy, clean, high-quality city.
Paju City Sign Culture School, which celebrates its 12th anniversary this year, is designed to prevent the installation of illegal signs through education on outdoor advertising laws and to support people in obtaining permits through legal procedures. Thanks to the active interest and participation of citizens, the number of graduates of Signboard Culture School has reached approximately 1,200 from 2011 to present.
With 66 people in attendance, including those working in the outdoor advertising business, public officials in charge of advertisements, and citizens, the event began with a declaration of school opening by Jang Hye-hyun, head of the daily school and the head of the Architectural Design Department, and an encouraging speech by Kim Jin-ki, vice mayor of Paju City.
The class was divided into theory and field training.In the first theoretical training held in the morning, Kim Jeong-su, director of the Korea Outdoor Advertising Policy Research Institute, served as a lecturer and covered recent trends and civil complaints related to outdoor advertising under the theme of ‘Understanding outdoor Advertising Laws’.
In the second theoretical training, the person in charge of outdoor advertising put up the slogan ‘Eco-friendly OK, Recycling Thank U’, explained Paju City’s eco-friendly outdoor advertising policies, and discussed reduction and adaptation activities to respond to the climate crisis. emphasized its importance.
In order to promote ‘Sosodam’, a sign culture unique to Paju City, the city displayed the excellent works selected at the ’15th Paju City Pretty Signboard Contest’ at the education center. sosodam (小小淡) means that a signboard that is smaller and clearer than a large signboard and blends in well with the surrounding scenery catches the eye.
In the afternoon, field training was conducted to increase participants’ understanding. Participants moved to the ‘COEX Magok Le West Exhibition Hall’ to check the vision of the circular economy industry, and then moved to the LG Art Center to view architecture and outdoor advertising exhibitions, and had time to see and learn from cases were what they learned in theory was actually applied.
Paju mayor Kim Gyeong-il said, “As the beauty and dignity of the city are completed in the hands of the citizens who are the owners of the city and live in it, communication and interest in signboards will serve as a foundation for improving Paju city’s beautiful scenery and urban design. “He said, “we will carry out various activities so that Paju City can present examples of excellent signboards and become a city that leads the signage culture.”
Meanwhile, Paju City held a ‘Mobile Mayor’s Office Visiting Education Sites’ with elementary school parent presidents in the conference room of Paju City Hall on the 10th.
At this event, which was prepared to actively reflect the voices of citizens in city governance, about 70 people, including Paju mayor Kim Gyeong-il, parent presidents of 40 elementary schools, and city officials, attended to discuss the direction of educational development.
At this event, various educational issues were discussed, including ▲measures to relieve overcrowded classes, ▲resolution of student human rights issues, ▲maintenance of the school road signal system, ▲electric kickboard and bicycle safety issues, and ▲maintenance of hazardous environments around schools.
A parent who participated in the event said, “It was a meaningful opportunity to meet the mayor in person and share honest opinions.” He added, “We ask for your continued interest and support so that Paju can become a happy educational city for both children and parents.”
Paju mayor Kim Kyung-il said, “Based on the valuable opinions you expressed today, we will do our best to prepare customized education policies for children and create ‘Paju, a good city to raise children.’”
Economy Queen Reporter Kim Hong-mi / Photo Paju City
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What role does community engagement play in shaping the future of signage in urban areas like Paju City?
Interview: The Future of signage adn Urban Culture in Paju City
Editor: Welcome to Time.news! Today, we have a special guest, Jang Hye-hyun, the head of the Paju City Sign Culture School and the Architectural Design Department. thank you for joining us, Jang!
Jang Hye-hyun: Thank you for having me! I’m excited to talk about our initiatives and the importance of signage in urban culture.
Editor: Let’s start with the recent event titled ‘2024 Paju Sign Culture School As 2011.’ Can you give us an overview of what this event aims to achieve?
Jang Hye-hyun: Certainly! This year marks the 12th anniversary of our Sign culture School. Our primary goal is to advance advertising culture in Paju by educating citizens about outdoor advertising laws. We’re particularly focused on preventing illegal sign installations, which can clutter our gorgeous city and create a negative impact on its overall aesthetic.
Editor: It sounds like a vital initiative for the community.I understand the program has seen overwhelming participation since its inception in 2011, with around 1,200 graduates. What do you attribute this interest to?
Jang Hye-hyun: The interest largely stems from our community’s desire for a healthy and clean environment. People are becoming increasingly aware of how advertising can influence not only the look of our city but also its identity. The active involvement of citizens, advertising professionals, and public officials reflects a collective aim to enhance Paju’s urban landscape.
Editor: Interesting! You mentioned that the class is divided into theory and field training. What does that entail?
Jang Hye-hyun: Great question! In our theoretical sessions, we cover topics like local advertising regulations, design principles, and the importance of responsible advertising practices. The field training, on the other hand, offers hands-on experiance where participants can apply what they’ve learned in real-world contexts. This combination ensures that they leave the program well-equipped to contribute positively to our city’s signage landscape.
Editor: That’s a complete approach! During the recent event, what kind of feedback did you receive from attendees?
Jang Hye-hyun: The response has been overwhelmingly positive. Both professionals and citizens expressed gratitude for the insights shared during the program. Many highlighted the importance of understanding legal procedures to obtain permits, which can be quite daunting without proper guidance. It’s clear that our community values this knowledge.
Editor: It’s wonderful to see such community engagement. How do you envision the future of signage in Paju city, especially as urban environments continue to evolve?
Jang Hye-hyun: I beleive the future of signage in Paju will be characterized by greater creativity and obligation. As we embrace new technologies and sustainable practices,we can create signage that not only informs but also enhances our city’s identity. I envision a collaborative environment where designers, advertisers, and citizens work together to create an inviting urban space that reflects our culture and values.
Editor: That’s a hopeful vision, Jang! Before we wrap up, do you have any advice for other cities looking to implement similar programs?
Jang Hye-hyun: Absolutely! My advice would be to foster open dialogues with your community. Encourage participation from various stakeholders, including local businesses and residents. Education is key to change—it helps demystify the regulations and empowers individuals to take pride in their city. Ultimately, collaboration breeds innovation, and that’s what will lead to a thriving urban culture.
Editor: Thank you so much for your insights, Jang Hye-hyun. It’s been a pleasure discussing the impactful work of the Paju Sign Culture School. We look forward to seeing how Paju continues to lead in creating a vibrant advertising culture!
Jang Hye-hyun: Thank you for having me! I appreciate the opportunity to share our vision.