Itaewon parking available at Yongsan office

By Bae Ji-sook

Staff reporter

Visitors to Itaewon market in central Seoul will soon be able to park their vehicles at nearby Yongsan District Office.

The local government and the Itaewon Special Tourist Zone Association signed a memorandum of understanding allocating 200 parking spaces out of the total 485 to the vendors of and visitors to more than 300 shops in the tourist zone.

The parking lot is open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. The exact fee has yet to be fixed but a monthly parking rate is available for vendors while shoppers presenting receipts of purchase are eligible for a discount.

The district office expects the move to help relieve chronic parking problems in Itaewon, which is frequented by both foreigners and Koreans enjoying the exotic atmosphere.