Seoul Imposes Parking Ban on Department Stores
By Kim Rahn
Staff Reporter
Department stores and other large public services buildings such as hospitals in Seoul will have to come up with plans to cut the number of visitors' vehicles by 20 percent and submit them to the authorities.
Those failing to keep the quota will face a fine. The new rules will go effective as early as December following the city council's endorsement.
Among the steps the department stores can take to reduce traffic are raising parking fees or reducing available space.
If the operators do not submit details or if their plans fail to actually ease traffic congestions around the buildings, the city government will order them to impose parking restrictions on customers such as banning them from using parking spaces on designated dates depending on the last digit of their license plate numbers. The city will designate up to 60 days per year for the parking restriction.
Those refusing to follow the measure will face a fine of up to 10 million won.
The list of shopping malls and other big buildings will be confirmed later. About 70 places are currently under consideration, including Lotte and Shinsegae department stores in downtown Seoul and COEX in southern Seoul.
Building operators are protesting the move, with an association of department stores submitting a petition to the local government in September. ``The city's measure is in violation of the Constitution because it infringes on the freedom to do business. It also infringes upon customers' right to consume in a safe and comfortable environment,'' it said.
The stores also claimed they are already paying ``traffic congestion fees,'' saying they will file an administrative suit or a petition with the Constitutional Court if the city government implements the new measure.