[Anchor]

Sanctions against so-called "blocking" parking, which involves obstructing apartment parking lot entrances, have been tightened starting today (the 28th). Fines of up to 5 million won can now be levied, and forced towing has also been made possible.

This is a report by Reporter Lee Seong-hoon.

[Reporter]

An SUV blocks a parking lot entrance, and the driver simply walks away.

Expressing dissatisfaction with management fees, the vehicle owner blocked the commercial building's only parking lot entrance with their vehicle for a full week.

This caused inconvenience for residents and created a situation where fire engines or ambulances could find it difficult to enter in the event of a fire or emergency.

Police were eventually dispatched, but it was difficult to remove the vehicle immediately because it was private property rather than a public road.

In the past, responding to such incidents often required separate legal judgments, such as for obstruction of business.

However, things have changed starting today.

Under the revised Parking Lot Act, the act of blocking the entrances of attached parking lots—such as those in apartment complexes, officetels, and commercial buildings—and obstructing the entry and exit of other vehicles is now legally subject to sanctions.

Fines are levied at 1 million won for a first offense, 3 million won for a second offense, and up to 5 million won for a third offense or more.

Procedures for moving vehicles have also been established.

Managers can first advise vehicle owners to move their cars, and if the owners do not comply, they can request necessary measures from local governments.

[Interview / Kim Young-mi / Lawyer: I think the biggest significance is that a mechanism has been established allowing the state to tow vehicles even if they are on private property. Parking fees will also be charged at the towed location, so they will have to pay those parking fees as well.]

In addition, fines will also be imposed for abandoning vehicles in public free parking lots for a month or more without justifiable grounds—so-called "space hoarding"—as well as for camping, cooking, and lighting fires in public parking lots.

(Video Editing: Jung Yong-hwa)