Chronic Congestion Near Yangjae IC
2008 Emergency Measure Allowed Auto Gallery Block P-Turn
Used Car Dealers Paralyzed... "Over 30 Businesses Closed"
On the 26th, the area in front of Yangjae Auto Gallery in Seocho-gu, Seoul was surrounded by vehicles heading towards Costco. One vehicle honked its horn as it was unable to exit the Auto Gallery parking lot. Photo by Gong Byung-sun mydillon@
[Asia Economy Reporter Gong Byung-sun] Around 10 a.m. on the 26th, in front of the used car dealership 'Auto Gallery' in Yangjae, Seocho-gu, Seoul. Vehicles gradually gathered, and soon formed a long line. The mix of incoming and outgoing vehicles caused traffic congestion. Most of these vehicles were headed to Yangjae Costco.
For over 10 years, cars trying to enter Costco have surrounded Yangjae Auto Gallery. Auto Gallery, which is experiencing disruptions in its business, has pleaded with Seocho District Office and the police to come up with measures as soon as possible.
Auto Gallery is a used car dealership specializing in foreign cars located next to Yangjae Costco. Due to its proximity to Yangjae Costco, which boasts the highest sales in Asia, it suffers from surrounding traffic issues. On weekends and weekday evenings, vehicles entering and exiting Costco surround the Auto Gallery area. The long line wrapping around the Auto Gallery store does not diminish, continuously interfering with its business operations. In fact, the area around Yangjae Costco is notorious among citizens for traffic congestion.
On the 26th, the area in front of Yangjae Auto Gallery in Seocho-gu, Seoul was surrounded by vehicles heading to Costco. People waited and then got out of their cars to go shopping at Costco. Photo by Gong Byung-seon mydillon@
It started in 2008. Although Yangjae Costco opened on December 12, 2000, it faced limitations from the start with only 730 parking spaces. Vehicles heading to Costco and those going to the Gyeongbu Expressway overlapped, turning the area near Yangjae IC into a chronic congestion zone. As public dissatisfaction grew, in 2008 Seocho District Office and the police, as a last resort, allowed U-turns in the block where Auto Gallery is located.
Since then, Auto Gallery has complained that its business has been disrupted. A representative from Auto Gallery said, "People coming to buy foreign cars cannot endure the traffic congestion and head to other dealerships," adding, "More than 30 businesses closed last year alone." Despite the increased popularity of used cars last year due to the semiconductor shortage, Auto Gallery did not benefit at all.
Auto Gallery has requested Seocho District Office and the police to eliminate the U-turns for over 10 years, but there has been no progress. An Auto Gallery representative said, "We are tired of explaining the same thing repeatedly every time the police officers or officials in charge of this complaint change due to personnel issues," and added, "If Seocho District Office or the police had not allowed the U-turns, Costco would have expanded not only its temporary parking lot but also more external parking lots." Seocho District Office stated, "We are currently discussing changes to the traffic system at the Yangjae-dong intersection leading to Costco with the police."
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