Jeju Province proposes tiered public parking fee restructuring

Jeju Province is pursuing a plan to implement a three-tier public parking fee system to redistribute vehicle demand across the region. Under the proposed improvement plan, parking fees in high-demand commercial areas—specifically parts of Yeon-dong, Nohyeong-dong, Ido 2-dong, and Ora-dong—would increase by 40%. For instance, the hourly rate in these Grade 1 zones would rise from 2,000 won to 2,800 won.

Conversely, the plan aims to lower costs in residential and rural areas to encourage drivers to move away from congested centers. Grade 3 zones, including residential areas and towns/villages, would see a 40% reduction in hourly rates, dropping from 2,000 won to 1,200 won. Grade 2 zones, covering other commercial and semi-residential areas, would maintain current hourly rates but see reductions in daily and monthly subscription fees.

The initiative affects 144 public parking lots totaling 15,544 spaces. While research suggests the change could increase overall parking usage by 16.2% through demand dispersion, a recent survey indicated that 72% of residents oppose the fee increases. Critics also note that while the plan may reduce congestion in some areas, it may not effectively prevent illegal parking on side streets near the high-cost commercial zones.