By Lee Kyung-min
Complaints are growing among residents near large churches in Seoul about illegal parking by churchgoers in alleys and on streets on Sundays.
The problem is especially evident near the Yoido Full Gospel Church in Yeouido in central Seoul, and the SaRang Church in Seocho District in southern Seoul, where more than 3,000 worshippers gather on Sundays.
Residents near the churches argue that the worshippers’ cars are illegally parked on sideways and near bus stops every Sunday around the time of church service.
For example, SaRang Church has a parking lot that can accommodate some 600 vehicles, and it secured an additional 400 spots nearby for Sundays, but that number is far short of demand.
Not only is it illegal to block pedestrians’ way, but what causes more frustration is the car owners taking it for granted that they may cause others’ inconvenience in the name of religious freedom, residents say.
“I once called the car owner on the contact number and asked him to move his car, and he said he could not because he was in a church service,” a blogger living near the church said. “I was beyond frustrated. It was inconceivable for me to act that way all the while that person was seeking goodness by worshipping God.”
Another woman with similar experience said those believers should think twice about their actions.
“I have a toddler and every time I take him out in a stroller on Sunday around the time of church service, the cars are just packed on the sideways forcing me to go around them,” the woman who lives near the Yoido Full Gospel Church said on an online community.
“I have to risk the safety of myself and my baby and walk on the roads where buses and cars are racing. Of course to avoid the hassle at all, I might choose other times when the church service is over. But why should I sacrifice my right to let them commit an illegal act? I am so frustrated,” she said.
She also called for the district authorities to enforce regulations more strictly on illegal parking.
“I received a parking ticket for just leaving the car on the road for less than five minutes to stop for a beverage. Why aren’t they receiving the same punishment?” she said.
Illegal parking is an offence subject to a fine of 40,000 won ($36), and 50,000 won if the vehicle is parked more than two hours in the same place.
Officials at the Gangnam District Office, a district which also has a large church, said they are doing all they can to address the problem, but the situation is not improving.
“We are short-staffed, but we send out patrols on Sundays too at the request of residents who file complaints. And we always try to issue tickets for the illegally parked cars,” an official said.