Junggu District in Seoul to Pilot AI-Based Unmanned System at Chosun Hotel Roadside Public Parking Lot

Gradual Introduction at 13 Locations

Advance Payment via Parking Friends App and QR Code

Junggu District Office in Seoul (headed by Kim Gilseong) announced on September 14 that it will gradually implement an artificial intelligence (AI)-based unmanned control system at 13 roadside public parking lots within the district. The first site selected for this initiative is the roadside public parking lot in front of the Chosun Hotel (102 Sogong-ro), where the district will introduce the unmanned system and conduct a pilot operation until February next year.

Unmanned public street parking lot in front of Josun Hotel. Provided by Jung-gu.

This area was made free of charge after the number of parking spaces was reduced from 12 to 4 due to the “Sogong-ro and Namdaemun-ro 7-gil Pedestrian Environment Improvement Project,” which is scheduled for completion in November 2024. However, as the number of vehicles parking for extended periods increased, leading to a drop in turnover, the district switched the lot to a paid system, charging 1,500 won per 30 minutes starting from September 2.

The unmanned system is part of the ninth directly elected administration’s pledge to build an “integrated smart parking information system.” Junggu signed a business agreement with parking platform company MDS Mobility and secured private sector investment to install related facilities without the need for district budget allocation.

The site has been equipped with two AI cameras for license plate recognition and one motion-detection camera. These devices automatically identify vehicles that have not paid or have overstayed their allotted time. Users can park in any available space and pay for their parking in advance through the “Parking Friends” app or by scanning the QR code on-site for the expected duration of their stay.

To assist with vehicle entry and exit, the district operates a 24-hour call center and maintains a real-time maintenance support system. Based on the results of the pilot project, the AI control system will be gradually expanded to the remaining roadside public parking lots.

District Mayor Kim Gilseong stated, “By introducing this AI-powered unmanned pilot program, we expect to resolve long-term parking issues at public lots and maximize space efficiency. Through thorough performance analysis, we will create a smart parking environment that all residents can conveniently use.”

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