South Korea Looks to Create Its Own Times Square

I always thought of Seoul’s City Hall area as Korea’s equivalent of Times Square where people tend to congregate, just without all the flashy screens:

Local governments across Korea are rushing to create their own versions of New York’s “Times Square,” unveiling massive outdoor screens and digital media facades in an effort to boost tourism and revitalize local economies. 

Inspired by iconic landmarks such as New York’s Times Square, London’s Piccadilly Circus, Toronto’s Dundas Square and Osaka’s Dotonbori, municipalities are competing to establish high-tech media zones that double as urban attractions.

According to the Ministry of the Interior and Safety on Sunday, Seoul’s Gangnam District around Coex was first designated as a “free outdoor advertising zone” in 2016, followed by Gwanghwamun Square, Myeong-dong and Haeundae District in Busan in 2023.

The government’s easing of regulations — once tightened to curb light pollution and visual clutter — has triggered what officials describe as a “new era” in the outdoor advertising market.

Korea Times

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