216 Spaces to Open in the First Half of Next Year,
Easing Parking Shortages
Seocho District in Seoul announced on June 10 that it had broken ground, together with Kia Corporation, on a public-private partnership project to build a parking complex on the site of the existing Naegok-dong public parking lot in the Sinwon-dong 282 area on June 9.
The new parking complex will have one basement level and five above-ground floors, with a total floor area of approximately 9,953 square meters. The goal is to open in the first half of next year. The parking section will operate as a public parking lot with 216 spaces from the first to the fourth floor above ground, while the office section will include a cafe, public facilities, offices, and a rooftop garden, offering a variety of amenities. Some spaces will be used free of charge by Kia Corporation for the next 20 years.
The site previously housed a public parking lot with 120 spaces, but the rapid increase in foot traffic near Cheonggyesan Entrance Station led to a sharp rise in parking demand, exacerbating parking difficulties. In particular, Naegok-dong's parking supply rate was only 67% of the Seocho District average, resulting in a rise in complaints about illegal parking and making the need for additional parking space urgent.
This project is significant not only as an expansion of parking facilities but also as a win-win model in which a private company and local government cooperate to resolve parking inconveniences and improve living infrastructure. The district plans to use this case as a starting point to expand public-private cooperation models, and to continue policy efforts to expand public infrastructure, improve the parking environment, and solve urban issues.
The groundbreaking ceremony was held on June 9, with Seocho District Mayor Jeon Seongsoo, Kia Corporation Executive Vice President Jung Sangkwon, and other officials in attendance.
Meanwhile, to minimize the gap in public parking availability and reduce inconvenience for residents during construction, the district has established a temporary public parking lot on the nearby Sinwon-dong 625 site. Last month, the district signed a free-use agreement with Lucenpark Co., the owner of the site, and created a temporary public parking lot in Naegok-dong with 80 spaces, which will be operated for one year from the groundbreaking date of the parking complex.
Seocho District Mayor Jeon Seongsoo stated, "We will do our utmost to ensure that the new Naegok-dong parking complex becomes a facility that provides real benefits to residents through win-win cooperation between businesses and the local community."
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