City Targets "Hogging Parking" with Paid Station-Area Parking
Introduces Advanced Systems Such as Unmanned Payment
Increased Turnover at Station-Area and Commercial District Parking Lots
Three-Year Phased Adjustment of Public Parking Lot Fees
Easing Commuter Parking Congestion Expected
Goyang Special City in Gyeonggi Province (Mayor Lee Donghwan) is accelerating the development of a "smart parking city" as its "high-intensity parking lot improvement plan," which has been promoted to address chronic parking shortages and modernize the parking environment, is yielding tangible results.
Todang Public Parking Lot No. 1, developed as an eco-friendly parking facility. Provided by Goyang Special City
According to Goyang Special City on December 19, the city has significantly improved parking convenience for citizens by normalizing the parking system to reduce so-called "hogging parking" and increase parking space turnover.
The core of these changes includes: the phased adjustment of public parking lot fees to reflect actual costs, the introduction of paid parking and environmental improvements at major station-area public parking lots, and the implementation of a smart unmanned payment system for roadside parking. The funds and efficiencies secured through the increased fees and new management methods are reinvested into improving and developing new public parking facilities.
Ending a 17-Year Freeze: "Fee Adjustment" Reduces Deficits and Enables Reinvestment in Parking Services
The public parking lot fees in the city had been frozen for 17 years since 2008. While this helped ease the burden on citizens, it resulted in a lack of resources for facility maintenance, repairs, and expansion, making it difficult to improve convenience for citizens in the long term.
As of the previous year, the total operating cost for Goyang's public parking lots was approximately 14.55 billion won, while total revenue was 8.57 billion won, resulting in a parking fee realization rate (parking revenue/operating cost) of only 58.85%.
In response, the city established a phased fee adjustment plan in February, considering both fiscal soundness and citizen affordability. Starting from July this year, fees will be increased by about 10% annually over three years.
Based on 2024, fees will be adjusted by 11% from July 2025 for one year, by just over 21% from July 2026, and by just over 30% from July 2027, in a sequential manner.
1546 Baekseok-dong Street Parking Lot (Exit 6 of Baekseok Station to Ansan Park). Provided by Goyang Special City
Even after the third-year adjustment, only about 77.24% of the total operating cost will be reflected, not the full amount.
The city explained that this measure is not simply a "fee increase," but an adjustment to maintain the public nature of public parking lots. The secured funds will be reinvested in improving outdated facilities and developing new public parking lots, enabling citizens to use parking services in a safer and more pleasant environment.
Meanwhile, in August, the city revised its "Ordinance on the Installation and Management of Parking Lots" to expand parking fee discounts to pregnant women and long-serving discharged soldiers. In addition to existing discounts for national merit recipients, people with disabilities, multi-child families, and military personnel, this measure further eases the burden of fee adjustments for socially disadvantaged groups.
Paid Parking Introduced at Wonheung, Ilsan, and Baengma Station Public Parking Lots: Reducing "Hogging Parking" and Improving Access for Users
Public parking lots near train stations had previously been operated free of charge, which led to problems with long-term abandoned vehicles and so-called "hogging parking." As a result, citizens wishing to use public transportation and patrons of nearby businesses experienced inconvenience due to the lack of available parking spaces.
To address this, the city has installed parking management systems at three public parking lots near stations-Wonheung Station in Deogyang-gu, Baengma Station in Ilsandong-gu, and Ilsan Station in Ilsanseo-gu-covering a total of 211 spaces. After a pilot operation, these lots will transition to paid operation 24 hours a day in stages.
The Wonheung Station Public Parking Lot (149 spaces) has completed the installation of its parking management system and will begin paid operation in January next year following a pilot run. The Baengma Station Public Parking Lot (35 spaces) is equipped with five CCTV cameras and a parking management system and is currently undergoing a pilot operation, aiming to transition to paid parking in the second half of next year.
The Ilsan Station Public Parking Lot (27 spaces) has been renovated as an "eco-friendly green parking lot" equipped with CCTV and a parking management system. Instead of asphalt, permeable grass blocks have been used to secure green space, and the curb between the station plaza and the parking lot has been lowered to create a barrier-free path for people with disabilities and the elderly. This is an example of improving parking convenience, the environment, and accessibility simultaneously.
The city expects that converting station-area public parking lots to paid operation will reduce long-term parking and increase turnover during commuting hours, allowing actual public transportation users and business patrons to access parking when needed. Such proper parking turnover is also expected to improve accessibility to nearby businesses and increase foot traffic.
Roadside Parking Lots Also "Go Smart": Unmanned Payment Improves Transparency and Convenience
Goyang City is also introducing smart technology to roadside parking lots to improve parking order. After a year-long pilot to verify technology stability and user convenience, the unmanned payment system was officially introduced in August at three commercial district locations with high parking demand and frequent complaints.
The targeted locations are: Sinwon-dong Roadside Parking Lot (16 spaces, 680-2 Sinwon-dong, Deogyang-gu), Baekseok Food Alley Roadside Parking Lot (41 spaces, 1546 Baekseok-dong, Ilsandong-gu), and Daehwa Park Roadside Parking Lot (20 spaces, near 2500 Daehwa-dong, Ilsanseo-gu).
Unmanned payment system camera installed on the roadside parking lot on Gangsongro 87beon-gil. Provided by Goyang Special City
The unmanned payment system uses LPR (License Plate Recognition) technology. When a vehicle enters, cameras installed in the parking lot automatically recognize and record the license plate and entry time; upon exit, the system calculates the parking fee based on the duration of stay. Users can pay via mobile payment or at nearby payment kiosks. Paid operation hours are from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., totaling 12 hours.
Entry and exit records outside the paid operation hours (09:00-21:00) are also automatically logged, reducing fee leakage and deterring unauthorized or long-term parking. The system can operate without staff, lowering labor costs and reducing conflicts between people.
Yoo Jinsang, Head of the Parking and Transportation Division, stated, "It is true that the original function of public parking lots has been compromised by the long-term monopolization of some vehicles. Through fee adjustment and system modernization, we will establish an advanced parking culture where every citizen can use parking services fairly and comfortably."
Goyang Special City plans to continue systematically improving parking infrastructure throughout the city based on the values of "smart, eco-friendly, and fair," thereby enhancing convenience for citizens and revitalizing the local economy.
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