Seoul Metro Officials Clarify That Celebrity Birthday Ads Will Continue To Be Allowed

Seoul Metro officials have clarified that idol and celebrity birthday advertisements will be allowed to continue.

Previously on June 22, the Seoul Metro, which operates lines 1 through 8, made the decision to ban “opinion advertisements” moving forward. These “opinion advertisements” are categorized as ads containing messages regarding individual or group opinions on matters of gender, politics, religion, or ideology.

On July 9, a source from the Seoul Metro stated, “There has been some controversy over the publishing of feminism advertisements, as well as Moon Jae In or Kim Jong Un advertisements on pedestrian bridges. Through the decision to ban advertisements with individual or group opinions, we have put into place clear rules.”

After initial concerns from fandoms about whether or not they would be able to continue to issue ads for idols’ birthdays, a representative of Seoul Metro clarified the issue as well. The source stated that after discussing the matter with the Advertisement Regulation Committee, advertisements congratulating idols on their birthdays would not be categorized as “opinion advertisements” and are recognized as just an expression of fandom.

As such, advertisements issued by fans for idols and other celebrities will continue to be allowed according to the representative.

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