"Parking Enforcement Eased for Livelihood Economy"... Jongno District Implements Policy District-wide

Relaxed Enforcement in Neighborhood Business Districts and Tourist Areas
Transitioning Parking Administration to a Mutually Beneficial Model

Jongno District in Seoul (District Mayor Yoo Chanjong) announced on July 8 that starting this month it will implement the "Plan to Expand Suspension of Parking Enforcement," which will expand the period during which parking enforcement is suspended throughout the entire district and operate more flexibly in areas with heavy tourist traffic.

District Chief Yuchan Jong expresses his intention to ease parking enforcement at the inauguration ceremony held on the 1st. Provided by Jongno District Office.

The district stated it will stop enforcement using its 196 fixed closed-circuit (CC)TV cameras from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day, instead focusing on on-site guidance. However, enforcement will continue during this time in areas where parking is absolutely prohibited—such as sidewalks, crosswalks, bus stops, fire hydrants, and intersections—as well as in child and senior protection zones, and in cases where vehicles are double-parked, parked diagonally, or otherwise cause significant traffic disruption.

Previously, relaxed enforcement was only applied at 16 CCTV-monitored spots during lunchtime, which raised concerns about fairness across different areas and low public awareness of the policy. In response, the district decided to expand the relaxed enforcement to cover all areas of Jongno.

In areas surrounding palaces, traditional markets, and tourist sites, enforcement will be applied flexibly. For vehicles parked in these zones, district officials will first attempt to make contact by phone, and CCTV enforcement will not be carried out. However, vehicles parked in absolutely prohibited zones that pose safety risks will still be subject to enforcement.

The standards for operating fixed CCTV cameras will also be revised. Enforcement hours, previously varied by area, will be standardized to 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., and there will no longer be any overnight enforcement.

Measures have also been put in place to minimize complaints resulting from the expanded suspension. For vehicles that threaten pedestrian safety, disrupt traffic flow, or block building entrances, parking lot entry and exit points, or the entrances to side streets, enforcement officers will check the site and take appropriate action.

Last year, there were approximately 130,000 cases of parking enforcement in Jongno District. The district stated that with this improvement, it expects to shift its parking administration from a regulation-focused approach to a mutually beneficial one, balancing safety and convenience while improving living conditions in both residential and commercial areas.

At his inauguration ceremony on July 1, District Mayor Yoo Chanjong said, "We will relax enforcement throughout Jongno so that neighborhood businesses can breathe." He added, "It is necessary to make improvements that consider both visitor convenience and commercial revitalization, so that families visiting the palaces do not leave Jongno with a negative impression due to fines."

District Mayor Yoo stated, "This initiative will mark the beginning of a parking administration focused on restoring daily life for residents, merchants, and tourists alike. We aim to breathe new life into neighborhood businesses and enhance the appeal of Jongno as a cultural and economic hub."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.