Recently, a search of the Seoul Metropolitan Government website revealed that Seoul has announced the establishment of South Korea's first LED electronic signage brightness standard. The new standard sets a daytime brightness requirement for electronic signs (below 7000 cd/m²), which is expected to result in approximately 15% energy savings.
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It is understood that following COEX, Gwanghwamun Square and Myeongdong have also been designated as free outdoor advertising display areas in South Korea, leading to an explosive growth in large LED electronic signs throughout the city. However, problems such as excessively bright electronic signs causing visual fatigue for pedestrians and drivers, inconsistent brightness across different areas, and inconvenience for citizens have also emerged. In response, Seoul has begun to develop an electronic signage brightness standard.
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Source: Seoul Metropolitan Government Website
The Seoul Metropolitan Government has implemented South Korea's first "Recommended Standard for Daytime and Nighttime Display Brightness of Outdoor Electronic Signage." The Seoul Metropolitan Government stated that the significance of this standard lies in further improving upon the limitations of existing laws, which allow for a relatively broad scope, and proposing specific standards that are more in line with actual conditions. Its goal is to reduce visual fatigue while maintaining advertising effectiveness.
Furthermore, the Seoul Metropolitan Government stated that this brightness standard will not only reduce inconvenience to citizens and improve the urban landscape, but is also expected to generate approximately 15% energy savings. Given the recent sharp fluctuations in the international energy market, the ability to see immediate energy savings is also of great significance.
The Seoul Metropolitan Government plans to simultaneously promote the widespread adoption of automatic brightness adjustment devices that can automatically adjust brightness based on ambient light levels, thereby ensuring that the electronic signage brightness standard can be successfully implemented and effective in practical applications.
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Source: Seoul Metropolitan Government Website
**Standard Contents**
1. Scope of Application
**Applicable to the installation, operation, and management of electronic signs that comply with the "Seoul Special City Regulations on the Management of Outdoor Advertising and the Promotion of the Outdoor Advertising Industry" and are subject to review by the Seoul Outdoor Advertising Review Committee (display area of 30㎡ or more).
2. Installation Standards
**Requires the installation of an automatic brightness adjustment device that can adjust brightness based on ambient light; in emergency situations (sensor or control failure, etc.), it should automatically switch to low brightness or turn off; it is recommended to install it on existing electronic signs, etc.
3. Brightness Standards for Illuminated Surfaces at Different Times
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**For Category 1 lighting environment management areas, the statutory standards of the "Light Pollution Prevention Act" apply; when operating an automatic brightness adjustment device based on ambient light, the daytime standard value can be relaxed by 10%, etc.
