Forgery and Misuse of Parking Permits Surpass 8,000 Cases Last Year
Over 400,000 Cases of Selfish Parking, Fines Total 35 Billion KRW
Calls Grow for 'Shock Therapy' with Dramatic Fine Increases
In his 20s, Mr. A was caught and brought to trial after using a disabled parking permit he found on the street, writing his own vehicle number on it, and using it for about a year. The Namyangju Branch of the Uijeongbu District Court sentenced Mr. A to four months in prison with a one-year probation for forgery of official documents and use of forged official documents.
Cases of 'tricks' like Mr. A's improper use of disabled parking permits are rapidly increasing. Incidents of parking directly in disabled-only zones or obstructing parking also continue unabated.
According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare on the 24th, fines imposed for improper use of disabled parking permits in 2024 amounted to approximately 11.214 billion KRW, a 463% increase compared to 1.992 billion KRW in 2021, three years ago. The number of cases detected during the same period also rose by about 434%, from 1,479 to 7,897.
Disabled parking permits are issued to the disabled person themselves and their caregivers. They must not be lent or transferred to others. Transferring disabled parking permits or creating similar permits for use can result in fines of up to 2 million KRW. Using permits beyond their validity period is prohibited, and obviously, writing your vehicle number on someone else’s permit and using it is also forbidden.
Meanwhile, parking selfishly in disabled parking zones without a permit continues to be a problem, with over 400,000 cases each year. About 430,000 cases were detected in 2023, and approximately 420,000 in 2024. Annual fines amount to a staggering 35 to 37 billion KRW.
Parking obstruction by parking next to or in front of empty disabled parking spaces was recorded 9,430 times last year alone, more than double the 3,940 cases in 2021.
Heungdeok Baseball Stadium vacant lot temporary parking lot located in Cheongju City, Chungcheongbuk-do. Illegally parked vehicles are lined up right in front of the banner to prevent illegal parking in the disabled-only zone. Provided by reader
As illegal activities related to disabled parking zones persist, local governments are strengthening special crackdowns and promotional activities. Although the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the responsible agency, has conducted joint crackdowns with local governments every year, the ministry is focusing on system improvements while local governments handle on-site enforcement.
The problem is that despite local government crackdowns, illegal activities in disabled parking zones are actually increasing. While the fine for improper use of permits is 2 million KRW, fines for illegal parking and parking obstruction range from 100,000 to 500,000 KRW. This has led to calls for a 'shock therapy' approach, such as a dramatic increase in fines.
Assemblywoman Kim Ye-ji, who proposed related legislative amendments, said, "To eradicate illegal parking in disabled-only parking zones, which amounts to hundreds of thousands of cases annually, it is essential to raise fines for illegal parking and misuse and improve the system." She added, "I will do my best to ensure the passage of the bill so that vehicles actually used by disabled persons can use disabled-only parking zones."
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