Mokpo City Struggles with Long-Term Illegal Parking of Camping Cars and Trailers Downtown

Inconvenience for Residents and Damage to Cityscape
City Admits "Enforcement Is Difficult"... Issue Remains Unresolved

A trailer has been parked long-term for years on a two-lane section of the highway, but Mokpo City states that enforcement is difficult.

Mokpo City in South Jeolla Province is struggling with the issue of illegally parked camping cars and trailers that have been left in various locations throughout the city for extended periods.

Camping cars occupying public parking lots and city roads not only cause inconvenience to traffic flow but also draw criticism for damaging the city’s appearance.

Residents have voiced complaints, saying, "Because camping cars are taking up spaces in public parking lots for long periods, there is no room left for ordinary vehicles to park."

Although current laws such as the "Inland and Coastal Shipping Business Act" require designated parking lots to prevent long-term illegal parking, these regulations do not apply retroactively to previously registered vehicles, resulting in limited enforcement effectiveness. In practice, even when enforcement is attempted, administrative resources are wasted due to measures such as covering license plates or installing mobile devices to evade detection.

Meanwhile, during an administrative audit, Assemblyman Park Yongjun of the Mokpo City Council asked, "Are there no ordinances or regulations for controlling camping cars, caravans, and trailers in the parking lot near the Mokpo Culture and Arts Center?" He urged, "Just as there are public parking lots for cargo trucks or buses that operate for a fee, we should establish similar facilities and then strengthen enforcement."

In response, a Mokpo City official explained, "We recognize and understand the problems, but securing budget and land is a challenge."

Assemblyman Park expressed regret, saying, "Some local governments have amended their enforcement ordinances to control illegal trailer parking. Our city also needs to show such proactive administrative will."

In some municipalities, such as Namdong-gu in Incheon, a portion of public parking lots has been designated exclusively for camping cars, helping to address the illegal parking issue. While calls from citizens for Mokpo City to establish dedicated parking lots and implement mid- to long-term solutions are growing, administrative changes still seem a distant prospect.

Meanwhile, some suggest that if Mokpo City were to operate a paid parking facility exclusively for camping cars and trailers using public parking lots in the Yudalsan area, which has been neglected for years, it could not only increase tax revenue but also help alleviate some of the traffic inconvenience caused by illegal parking.