"Parking Efficiency Up to 48% Higher"... Can 'Auto Valet' Solve Multi-Family Housing Parking Shortages? [Real Estate AtoZ]

Ministry Revises Housing Construction Standards to Allow Auto Valet Parking
Applicable to Approved Complexes from December
LHRI: "Parking Efficiency Up to 48% Higher, Construction Costs Reduced"
Park at the Entrance and Robots Handle Parking... Expected to Cut Waiting Times and Accident Risks
"Urgent Need to Shift Parking Policies to Hybrid Systems"

As parking shortages in multi-family housing complexes worsen, the automated parking system known as the "Auto Valet Parking System" is gaining attention as a potential solution. Following the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's move to revise related regulations, the LH Land and Housing Research Institute (LHRI) has recently highlighted the necessity of adopting the auto valet parking method in a new report. The system is expected to deliver positive effects, such as increasing parking capacity by nearly 50% while reducing the required space by more than half.

Automated valet parking system inside Mori Building, Tokyo, Japan. Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.

According to the "Policy Study on Resolving Parking Conflicts in Multi-Family Housing," recently released by LHRI, a research institute under Korea Land and Housing Corporation (LH), there have been approximately 76,000 complaints related to parking in multi-family housing over the past four years. In Gyeonggi Province, the required number of parking spaces per household is 1.35, while the planned number is only 1.08, resulting in a parking shortage rate of 20.5%. The institute pointed out, "Even when parking lots are secured above the legal standard, it is still not enough to meet the demand."

In response, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport plans to implement a revised version of the "Regulations on Housing Construction Standards" in December, which will allow the installation of auto valet parking lots in multi-family housing. The revised regulations will apply from the time of project approval. Until now, auto valet parking lots have been limited to commercial facilities or urban-style residential buildings. Going forward, this is expected to pave the way for their expansion into large-scale apartment complexes.

The auto valet system adds dedicated robotic devices for vehicle entry and exit to conventional mechanical parking lots, allowing drivers to complete parking without entering the parking area. When a vehicle is stopped in a dedicated pick-up and drop-off zone at the entrance, the machine automatically recognizes it and moves and parks it in a designated space. Compared to traditional mechanical parking lots, this system reduces the risk of door dings, double parking, and collisions during reversing.

The report estimates that introducing auto valet technology increases parking capacity by an average of 25.7% to 48.3% compared to existing systems. It also analyzes that reducing the area of basement levels can lower construction costs and help secure more green space. The space-saving effect is particularly pronounced compared to self-parking lots. For example, parking 100 vehicles with the auto valet system requires only about 183 square meters, whereas a self-parking lot needs 516 square meters, resulting in a space reduction rate of 65%. The floor height can also be reduced from 2.3 meters to 1.9 meters, significantly cutting underground construction costs.

According to a user perception survey conducted by LHRI with 300 residents of residential facilities, 48.7% responded that they would be willing to use the auto valet system if installed in their residence. Additionally, 56% supported the necessity of auto valet and mechanical parking lots in regular apartment complexes. The most common complaint about existing mechanical parking lots was "long waiting times," cited by 54.3% (combining first and second priorities). The main expected benefits of introducing auto valet were reduced waiting times (45.3%) and increased parking capacity (48.3%).

LHRI emphasized the urgent need to revise regulations to introduce a "hybrid parking system" (combining self-parking, mechanical, and auto valet systems). The institute suggested, "It is necessary to establish 'integrated smart parking standards' that unify safety and operational criteria by technology type." It also stressed, "Through evidence-based regulatory improvements and the expansion of pilot projects, parking policies should be made more flexible to suit various residential environments, such as space constraints, aging complexes, and redevelopment projects."