"Know About Support for Disabled Driver's Licenses and Strengthened Parking Zone Enforcement Standards"

20th is 'Disabled Persons Day'
Road Traffic Authority Provides Information on Support Programs for Disabled Drivers License Acquisition

Yongin Driver's License Examination Office Disabled Driver Support Center. / Provided by Korea Road Traffic Authority

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-joo] On the 20th, in observance of 'Disability Day,' the Korea Road Traffic Authority (Chairman Yoon Jong-gi) introduced the support program for obtaining driver's licenses for people with disabilities and provided information on the revised enforcement standards and fines for disabled parking spaces that have been in effect since last month.

The Korea Road Traffic Authority operates the 'Disabled Driver Support Center' to assist people with disabilities who have difficulty using public transportation in obtaining a driver's license. Starting with the Busan Nambu Testing Center in 2013, the center now operates in eight locations including Jeonnam, Yongin, Gangseo, Daejeon, Daegu, Incheon, and Jeonbuk.

Until now, free driving education was limited to people with severe disabilities (grades 1 to 4) and national merit recipients with disabilities, but following the recent amendment to the Road Traffic Act Enforcement Decree, the program will be expanded to include all people with disabilities starting in July.

At the Disabled Driver Support Center, physical examinations and assessments of driving license eligibility are conducted, providing personalized safety education and vehicle modification advice. Free education includes 2 hours of theory, 4 hours of skills training, and 10 hours of road driving, with only the examination fee required to obtain the driver's license. All courses are conducted by instructors specialized in disability education and use specially modified vehicles, covering the entire process from driving education to license acquisition.

Additionally, since March of this year, enforcement standards for disabled parking spaces have been strengthened. Even if a disabled parking permit is displayed on the vehicle, parking is considered illegal if a person with a walking disability is not present in the vehicle. Disabled parking permits are also issued separately for the disabled driver and for their caregiver.

If a general vehicle parks in a disabled parking space, a fine of 100,000 KRW is imposed. Intentional obstruction of disabled parking spaces, such as parking in front of the space or stacking objects to block parking, results in a fine of 500,000 KRW. Furthermore, vehicles that improperly use disabled parking permits through transfer or forgery are fined 2,000,000 KRW.

Yoon Jong-gi, Chairman of the Korea Road Traffic Authority, emphasized, “With the goal of realizing social value, we plan to expand the driver's license support program to guarantee mobility rights and improve the welfare of people with disabilities. Prior to this, it is important for the public to empathize with the necessity of facilities for people with disabilities and to cultivate a mature traffic culture that considers disabled individuals as vulnerable road users.”

People with disabilities wishing to obtain a driver's license and national merit recipients with disabilities can consult through each center. For more details, please refer to the Korea Road Traffic Authority website.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.