"Please Park Properly" Neighbors Frustrated by Troublesome and Nuisance Parking [Han Reporter Goes]

Apartment Complex 'Nuisance Parking' Double and Triple Parking
"Move Your Car Now", "Park Properly" Neighbor Conflicts Escalate
Apartment Internal Passageways and Parking Lot Roads Are Private Property, Making Fines Difficult
Consideration of Active Administrative Measures Such as Imposing Fines

Parking situation at an apartment complex in Seoul. The apartment buildings are barely visible through the cars, as the parking lot is densely packed with vehicles. In this situation, inconsiderate parking such as double parking by some residents leads to conflicts among neighbors. Photo by Han Seung-gon

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon] # Kim, a company employee in his 30s, recently experienced a frustrating situation. He had an urgent matter early in the morning and needed to use his car, but someone had double-parked in front of his vehicle without leaving the driver's contact information inside. Kim said, "Later, when I met the driver and heard the story, he said he just parked briefly," expressing his anger. Kim raised his voice, saying, "How can 'just briefly' be an excuse? This is simply rude. A very selfish person."

Conflicts among neighbors over so-called 'nuisance parking' in apartment complexes, where residents park their private cars carelessly and without manners, are intensifying. Since apartment security guards, who have the authority to enforce regulations, often depend on residents for contract renewals and other permissions, enforcement of nuisance parking is limited to mere recommendations. Moreover, under current laws, it is difficult to impose fines if the area is not a public road, so many believe that mature civic awareness is the only solution to these problems.

Park, a security guard in his 70s managing an apartment complex in Seoul, expressed difficulties in cracking down on double parking. Double parking refers to parking a car directly in front of or behind another parked vehicle and is the most common source of conflict in apartment complexes.

Park lamented, "Since everyone knows each other, it’s hard to enforce rules openly, and there are limits." He added, "Of course, we take action when complaints come in, but sometimes it causes friction among residents. I think the solution is for everyone to make small compromises."

Although there are existing laws such as fines to resolve habitual double parking and other 'nuisance parking' conflicts, these apply only to parking in prohibited zones on public roads according to the Road Traffic Act, making enforcement difficult within apartment complexes, which are private properties and not considered roads.

In 2018, in Songdo International City, Incheon, a 50-year-old driver blocked the entrance to an underground parking lot for seven hours after the management office of an apartment issued a parking violation warning?a case known as the 'Camry incident.' The driver was sentenced in the first trial to six months in prison with a two-year probation for general traffic obstruction and business obstruction, but whether the situation constituted general traffic obstruction remains disputed.

Forced towing is also difficult. According to the Motor Vehicle Management Act, a vehicle must be abandoned for more than two months, and certain conditions such as requesting the vehicle owner to move the car must be met.

Severe parking conflicts can even lead to crimes. In July 2016, a man in his 60s came out of his house with a hammer and violently smashed a passenger car parked near his own vehicle. He shattered all the side and rear windows and continued hammering various parts of the car. When police arrived, the man said, "I was angry because the car was parked illegally in front of my house and the owner didn’t answer the phone."

Due to the lack of clear legal standards, public opinions are divided. Choi, a company employee in his 30s, said, "I think parking issues could be resolved immediately if fines could be imposed. The scope of fines should be expanded from roads to apartment complexes," raising his voice.

Lee, a self-employed person in his 40s, said, "The law itself seems problematic, but punishing people separately for breaking it is another issue. Neighbors should resolve it among themselves," he added.

In August 2018, a Toyota Camry belonging to a woman in her 50s was left abandoned on the sidewalk at the main entrance of an apartment complex in Yeonsu-gu, Songdo, Incheon. The woman caused controversy by blocking the entrance to the underground parking lot with her car after becoming angry over a parking violation sticker placed on her vehicle within the apartment complex.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

In this context, the National Assembly Legislative Research Office (LRO) issued a report on the 13th, suggesting that active administrative measures such as imposing fines should be considered when parking order is excessively disrupted.

The LRO stated in the report, "If unauthorized vehicles are frequently parked or residents’ parking is obstructed, excessively disturbing parking order within apartment complexes, imposing fines can be considered."

It added, "Since this approach may excessively infringe on private domains by administrative power, careful review is necessary first. However, considering the increasing frequency and severity of conflicts, active discussions beyond relying solely on voluntary resolution by residents are needed."

Experts also suggested establishing internal guidelines within apartment complexes and having residents comply with them as management regulations to create and follow their own rules.

A legal expert said, "Ultimately, everything could be resolved by punishing according to the law and imposing fines, but an attitude of consideration for neighbors is important. There are extreme cases of triple parking as well as double parking, and it helps to put yourself in others’ shoes. Also, creating apartment management regulations and resolving conflicts through those rules before resorting to legal action is a good method," he said.