About one-third of the signboards in Seoul's university district are written in foreign languages, sparking controversy. In principle, signboards must be written in Korean according to Korean law, but registered trademarks in foreign languages can be used as they are. Also, standards can be relaxed in certain areas through tourism zones, etc. However, due to loopholes in the regulations on signboard reporting and permission, there is a problem that foreign language signboards can be installed without penalty if the area is small or the building has a low number of floors. As a result, with the increase in foreign students, the number of foreign language signboards is increasing, and concerns are being raised that this may cause inconvenience and a sense of alienation for some groups, such as the elderly.
