"Don't Park Like This!" Neighbors Furious Over 'My Way Parking'

Over 76,500 Complaints of Illegal Parking on Private Property in the Past 4 Years

A driver pushing a double-parked car in a parking lot, causing three vehicles to collide. Photo by Asia Economy DB

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Soyoung] "How on earth can you park like this!", "The car owner isn't even answering the phone!"

Complaints from citizens about various illegal parking issues, including double parking, continue unabated. While related complaints are increasing, no effective measures have been put in place, deepening conflicts among neighbors.

According to government-related statistics, the number of registered vehicles exceeded 24.36 million by the end of last year. Along with the increasing number of cars, complaints about illegal parking on private property within apartment complexes and villas are also rising. According to the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission, the number of illegal parking complaints last year increased by 153 times compared to 2010.

Not only ordinary citizens but also celebrities suffer from illegal parking complaints. Broadcaster Kim Wonhyo posted on his social media in June, "Wow~ I'm going crazy. In my 20 years of driving experience, this is the first time I've seen such double parking. After parking like this, where did everyone really go?" along with a post exposing double parking.

Many stories about parking difficulties have been posted on various online communities. Most citizens especially express dissatisfaction with double parking. There are frequent accidents caused by drivers crossing the center line to avoid double-parked vehicles. On the 11th of last month, a vehicle black box video titled "Crashed with a motorcycle while crossing the center line due to double-parked cars!" was posted on the YouTube channel 'Han Mooncheol TV'.

According to the submitted video, driver A, entering an apartment complex in Changwon City, Gyeongnam Province, had no choice but to cross the center line because of a line of double-parked cars on the road. Then, a motorcycle made a right turn from the left, and although A immediately stopped the vehicle upon noticing it, a collision still occurred. Netizens debated over who was at fault for this accident.

Such accumulated parking stress sometimes erupts in reality. On 'Han Mooncheol TV', a vehicle black box video titled "I've never seen such an absurd man. He just pushed cars like pushing a cart" appeared.

This submitted video was recorded around 9 p.m. on the 7th of last month. The submitter said, "I was sitting in the car waiting for my family when I witnessed something absurd." The video shows that at an apartment in Gwangyang City, Jeonnam Province, a driver attempting double parking suddenly got out of the car and started pushing the vehicle behind. Despite colliding with the car behind during this process, he continued pushing, eventually causing three cars to be pushed while colliding with each other.

A public parking lot. The photo is unrelated to specific expressions in the article. [Image source=Yonhap News]

In response, a lawyer advised, "It looks like pushing a cart at a mart or airport. I've seen all kinds of people," adding, "Pushing one car at a time and causing collisions can be considered a mistake, but knowingly pushing cars to collide constitutes property damage with indirect intent and can be subject to punishment."

Some point out that double parking is sometimes done out of convenience even when parking spaces are available. On the 24th of last month, a post titled "Our apartment's Carnival limousine is amazing" was uploaded on an online community, exposing double parking.

The author wrote, "The underground parking lot has plenty of spaces and the parking spots are not particularly narrow," and expressed anger, saying, "Those who double park every day, double parking is okay, but if you're going to park like this every day, please move your car early in the morning." The photos he shared showed empty parking spaces in various places.

Netizens who saw this empathized, commenting, "Even if there are parking spaces elsewhere, they double park close to their own home," "In places where double parking is common, people don't park in the parking spots. Even if spaces are empty, they double park in front of them. You have to push and park in the parking spot yourself," and "Our apartment has severe parking difficulties, so I try to understand, but I wish they would move their cars during rush hour."

On the other hand, some netizens expressed grievances, saying, "I had no choice but to double park because it was full, but later when the parked cars leave, it looks like I double parked even though there was space," "It's hard for disabled or female drivers to push double-parked cars," and "Every morning when I push double-parked cars, medium-sized cars really don't budge with a woman's strength." From 2018 to August this year, more than 76,500 complaints about illegal parking on private property have been filed with the National Petition Board over the past four years.

Experts suggest that if double parking is unavoidable, basic etiquette must be observed. Traffic accident specialist lawyer Jeong Kyungil advised in an interview with YTN's 'Wise Radio Life', "Double parking (only when parking spaces are available) is subject to criminal punishment for obstruction of business and general traffic obstruction," adding, "When double parking, you could be held responsible if something goes wrong, so it should be for a short time, you must leave your contact information, and the wheels should be aligned in a row when parking. The parking brake should be released and the gear set to neutral, among other things, must be strictly observed."

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