"Request for Maternity Handbook for Full-Term Pregnant Women"... Incheon Public Parking Lot Manager Ultimately Fired

Pregnant woman. Not related to the article. /Photo by Getty Images Bank

[Asia Economy Reporter Na Ye-eun] A public parking lot manager who blocked an 8-month pregnant woman, eligible for parking fee exemption benefits, from leaving the parking lot on the grounds of verifying her pregnancy was eventually dismissed.

After the controversy grew following a Blue House petition and complaints posted by the pregnant woman, the private contractor managing the public parking lot reportedly notified the termination of the employment contract.

On the 8th, the Incheon Facilities Corporation announced, "The employment contract with the parking lot manager involved in the controversy at a public parking lot in Bupyeong-gu, Incheon, will be terminated."

Photo by Cheongwadae National Petition Capture

Earlier, on the 3rd, a petition titled "An 8-month pregnant woman was detained by a public parking lot manager who said they could not confirm her pregnancy" was posted on the Blue House petition site.

The petitioner, Ms. A, who identified herself as 8 months pregnant, complained about discrimination she experienced from a specific public parking lot manager while receiving the pregnant women parking fee discount benefit administered by Incheon City.

Ms. A registered her vehicle at the health center and displayed the registration certificate according to the parking fee discount benefit, but frequent arguments occurred with the manager whenever she settled the parking fee. She claimed, "When I told them it was a pregnant woman's vehicle and showed the registration certificate at payment, they angrily said, 'Didn't you say anything 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 returning it, forcing me to get out of the car to pick it up, and despite my protests against their abusive language, they denied it, causing repeated disputes."

Ms. A filed a complaint with the relevant department, but the issue did not improve. Later, the manager blocked Ms. A, claiming, "The pregnant vehicle registration certificate cannot be verified. You cannot leave unless you present your ID card and maternity handbook." However, the pregnant vehicle registration certificate required for the parking benefit is unrelated to the ID card or maternity handbook.

Regarding this, Ms. A pointed out, "I have already used the pregnant vehicle registration certificate dozens of times over several months, and the manager remembers my face and car from multiple complaints, so blocking me to verify if I am pregnant cannot be justified."

As the controversy intensified, the Incheon Facilities Corporation confirmed through an on-site investigation that the manager blocked Ms. A's vehicle with a barrier pole. An official from the Incheon Facilities Corporation said, "We spoke with the complainant and received an 'understood' response," adding, "The complainant said there were no further demands."