By Kim Rahn
Staff Reporter
Lotte Department Store and other big buildings in central Seoul should raise parking fees or take other steps to curb the number of vehicles visiting their buildings by at least 20 percent. They will otherwise face up to a 10 million won ($10,000) fine, or an administrative order requiring motorists to visit them once a week or every other day.
The city's plan is aimed at countering worsening traffic congestion, especially around 69 shopping malls and other big buildings, including Shinsegae Department Store and COEX Mall.
According to the plan, building operators must forward to the city details of plans to cut the number of visitors' vehicles. Among the steps are hikes in parking fees, the elimination of free parking and reduction of parking spaces.
If such plans do not ease traffic jams around the stores, the city will order them to force visitors to drive in once on a weekday, or on alternating days, based on license plate numbers.
The city plans to designate up to 60 days per year for alternate day driving from as early as late September after getting the endorsement of the city council.
Owners of the buildings, however, protest the measure, saying they already pay ``traffic congestion'' fees. The city previously planned to impose 4,000 won in parking fees for each car, but scrapped the plan following protests from citizens and department stores.
City officials say that they are considering reviving the traffic congestion fee.