South Korea implements stricter penalties for parking obstructions

New amendments to the Parking Lot Act and its enforcement decree take effect on the 28th, introducing stricter penalties for obstructing parking lot entrances and long-term abandonment of vehicles in public spaces.

Under the new regulations, blocking the entrances of private or attached parking lots in apartment complexes or commercial buildings will be subject to fines and potential towing. Previously, authorities faced limitations in taking action because these areas were classified as private property. Now, if a driver refuses a request to move a vehicle blocking an entrance, local governments can authorize towing. Fines for such obstructions will be tiered: 1 million won for the first offense, 2 million to 3 million won for the second, and up to 5 million won for the third or subsequent offenses.

Additionally, the rules target long-term parking in free public parking lots. Vehicles left without a justifiable reason for more than one month will face fines starting at 300,000 won, increasing to 1 million won for repeated violations. To prevent evasion, authorities will assess long-term parking based on the entire parking lot rather than individual stalls. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport expects these measures to improve parking turnover, reduce social conflict, and ensure emergency vehicle access.