Songpa District Named Top Performer in Transportation Demand Management Assessment... Secures 200 Million Won Incentive

Achieved 95% Collection Rate for Traffic Congestion Charges
Creative Solution to Illegal Parking by Pharmacy Vehicles

Songpa District in Seoul (District Mayor Seo Gangseok) was selected as the top district in the "2025 District-Level Transportation Demand Management Assessment" organized by the Seoul Metropolitan Government, securing an incentive of 200 million won.

The transportation demand management assessment is conducted annually for all 25 districts in Seoul, and the results determine the amount of grant support each district receives. The assessment comprehensively evaluates performance in four areas: traffic congestion charges, corporate transportation demand management, focused management of transportation demand, and the discovery of special initiatives and cooperation with city policies.

Joint inspection conducted at Lotte Mart and Lotte Department Store. Promotional images encouraging the use of public transportation are being displayed. Provided by Songpa District.

Songpa District has once again demonstrated its outstanding competitiveness in transportation administration, following its first selection as the top district in 2022. Last year, the district achieved a 95% collection rate for traffic congestion charges. Thanks to thorough management and cooperation efforts, the cumulative delinquency rate remains at only 0.5%. The district also expanded meetings and joint inspections with relevant companies to encourage large facilities that increase local traffic volume to voluntarily participate in traffic reduction measures.

In particular, a creative solution to the long-standing problem of illegal parking by pharmacy vehicles near Seoul Asan Medical Center, which had persisted for 20 years, played a crucial role in Songpa's selection as the top district. Instead of simple enforcement, the district proposed a fundamental solution by linking the hospital’s expansion approval process to the securing of dedicated parking lots and pick-up/drop-off zones within the hospital.

The district collaborated with the hospital and the pharmaceutical association to establish a "public-private self-regulation system" that imposes disadvantages on pharmacies not using the dedicated parking spaces. This was accompanied by intensive enforcement and closed-circuit (CC) TV monitoring as follow-up measures. As a result, the lines of vans on the roads disappeared, and both traffic congestion and pedestrian safety near the hospital saw dramatic improvements.

Additionally, the district improved major intersections and expanded diagonal crosswalks this year to create a pedestrian-centered road environment. It also reorganized city bus routes and extended local bus lines, earning praise for simultaneously reducing traffic volume and enhancing citizen convenience.

Seo Gangseok, Mayor of Songpa District, stated, "This selection as the top district is an achievement made possible by residents and business representatives who endured many inconveniences and actively participated to resolve traffic congestion. We will continue to create a safe and pleasant transportation environment, making Songpa a premium city where both pedestrians and drivers can enjoy a comfortable life."