"Criticism of Staying So Long While Using It for Free"
[Asia Economy Reporter Na Ye-eun] A story has emerged about an 8-month pregnant woman who was receiving parking benefits at a public parking lot in Incheon City and was subjected to unreasonable detention by the parking lot manager.
On the 3rd, a petition titled "An 8-month full-term pregnant woman was detained by a public parking lot manager because they said they could not verify her pregnancy" was posted on the Blue House National Petition site.
The petitioner, A, who identified herself as being 8 months pregnant, complained about discrimination she experienced from a specific public parking lot manager while receiving the pregnant women parking fee discount benefit organized by Incheon City.
A stated that although she registered her vehicle at the health center and attached the registration certificate according to the parking fee discount benefit, she frequently had arguments with the manager during parking fee settlements. She claimed, "When I told them it was a pregnant woman's vehicle and showed the registration certificate during parking fee settlement, they got angry saying, 'Didn't you deliberately not mention it when you came in to avoid paying?' and criticized me for using the parking lot for too long for free."
She added, "They took off the registration certificate attached to the front windshield to examine it closely, dropped it on the ground when handing it back, making me get out of the car to pick it up myself, and even when I protested after hearing abusive language, they denied it, causing repeated disputes."
A filed the complaint with the relevant department, but the problem did not improve. Afterwards, the manager blocked A, claiming, "The pregnant vehicle registration certificate cannot be verified. If you do not present your ID and maternity handbook, you cannot be let through." However, the pregnant vehicle registration certificate required for parking benefits is unrelated to the ID and maternity handbook.
Regarding this, A pointed out, "I have already used the pregnant vehicle registration certificate dozens of times over several months, and after filing multiple complaints, the manager remembers my face and car, so their action of blocking me saying they need to verify if I am pregnant cannot be justified."
Eventually, A called the police. She said, "I was so upset and distressed that I was in tears and had difficulty breathing," and added, "The police officer looked at my belly and said, 'You are obviously pregnant, but since your condition is not good right now, calm down and go home,' and sent me home."
She continued, "I am not a criminal, so why should I go through this? I feel wronged and very hurt," and lamented, "When I asked the police station about filing a complaint, they said that since I was not physically restrained or detained directly, there is no criminal aspect, so I cannot file a complaint."
She urged, "Do pregnant women have to suffer physical injury or have problems with the fetus to be protected by law? In South Korea, a low birthrate country actively promoting childbirth encouragement policies, can't pregnant women be actively protected by law?"
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