Illegal One-Room Parking Report Leads to Threatening Notice Saying "Identified Who It Was with Black Box"

Controversy Over Sympathetic Comments from Other Residents

An incident occurred where a resident who illegally parked in a disabled parking space became outraged over the fine and posted a public notice harshly criticizing the reporter, Yonhap News reported on the 10th.

A large poster criticizing those who report illegal parking in disabled parking zones.
Photo by Yonhap News

Mr. A, who lives in a villa located in Busan, took photos of vehicles illegally parked in the villa's disabled-only parking spaces over the past month and reported them to the National Sinmungo (People's Petition System). This was because many residents habitually parked in the disabled-only zones despite available parking spaces. Due to Mr. A's report, the owners of the illegally parked vehicles were fined 100,000 KRW. Although illegal parking in the disabled-only parking spaces within the villa was eradicated afterward, another problem arose.

A threatening public notice targeting Mr. A was posted in the villa's elevator. The notice stated that Mr. A was identified as a fellow resident through the vehicle's black box footage and was presumed to have been written by a resident who was fined.

The notice read, "After checking the black box footage, it seems you are a resident. I really don't understand what kind of mindset led you to report this, so I am leaving this note. I just can't understand why you acted like that. I want to confront you in person, but I won't act on it because I don't want to become the same kind of person."

Several comments agreeing with the notice followed, such as "Agreed," "This is really too much. Live well and prosper," "I feel the same. I was reported too," and "If there is no parking space, I think it's natural to park (in the disabled zone). Stop being so strict ㅠㅠ."

The public notice was removed about a week after it was posted. However, Mr. A's anxiety remains. He said, "I wonder if I was really inflexible and wrong, or if those who committed illegal acts were at fault. After my story was reported in the media, I want to receive the public's judgment through the comments."

Reported Illegal Parking, Then Told "Do You Have a Conscience... Even a 6-Year-Old Child Is Vulnerable"

Blaming whistleblowers is not uncommon. Last month, an online community post titled "A regular vehicle parked in a disabled parking space, and when I reported it, they asked if I have a conscience" was uploaded. The illegally parked vehicle owner confronted the reporter in text messages, saying, "I saw that you reported parking in the disabled parking space. Isn't it too harsh among people living in the same apartment?" They added, "I was just waiting for a 6-year-old child to get off school and briefly parked the car in the disabled parking space before moving it, but it feels too harsh," and lamented, "Even a 6-year-old child is vulnerable. We all live together in this world, so this is really too much."

Disabled-only parking spaces can only be used by people who can drive but have 'walking disabilities' and have been issued a disabled vehicle permit by a government administrative agency to prove this.

If a vehicle parks in a disabled-only parking space without displaying the permit (illegal parking) or if a person without walking disabilities is in the vehicle, a fine of 100,000 KRW is imposed. Obstructing parking in disabled-only parking spaces can result in a fine of 500,000 KRW. Additionally, regardless of the time limit (5 minutes) stipulated in Articles 32 and 34 of the Road Traffic Act, general vehicles are prohibited from parking in disabled-only parking spaces under any circumstances.