Chairman Seungil Jeon of Gwangju Seo-gu Council: "Recognition for National Merit Recipients Must Be Strengthened"

Ordinance on the Establishment and Operation of Priority Parking Zones Proposed

The ordinance on the establishment and operation of priority parking zones for national merit recipients, proposed by Seungil Jeon, Chairman of Gwangju Seo-gu Council, passed the review of the Social and Urban Affairs Committee during the 331st 1st regular session held on June 17.

Seungil Jeon, Chairman of Gwangju Seo-gu Council. Provided by Gwangju Seo-gu Council

This ordinance was enacted based on Article 5 of the Framework Act on Veterans Affairs to provide a legal basis for establishing and operating priority parking zones within public facilities and multi-use facilities, aiming to improve parking convenience for national merit recipients and to strengthen recognition of their service in everyday life.

The ordinance stipulates that in public facilities such as public office buildings and public parking lots managed by Seo-gu District Office, at least one parking space must be designated as a priority parking zone if the facility has 30 or more parking spaces. It also recommends that multi-use facilities such as large supermarkets and hospitals establish priority parking zones, thereby expanding the scope to the private sector.

According to the ordinance, those eligible to use the priority parking zones include 5·18 democracy merit recipients, veterans, and persons eligible for veterans compensation, among other national merit recipients who are recognized under individual laws such as the Act on the Honorable Treatment and Support of Persons of Distinguished Service to the State, provided that the national merit recipient is present in the vehicle.

To use the priority parking zone, a vehicle must display the national merit recipient vehicle tag issued by the Seo-gu District Office on the exterior. If a vehicle not carrying a national merit recipient is parked in the priority parking zone, the manager of the zone may recommend that the vehicle be moved to another location.

Chairman Seungil Jeon stated, "The recognition of national merit recipients who have dedicated themselves to the country should go beyond mere declarations and be something that can be felt in daily life," adding, "I hope this ordinance will contribute to spreading a culture of honoring veterans in the region, and I will continue to work to improve the welfare and rights of national merit recipients."

The proposed ordinance is scheduled to be reviewed at the 3rd plenary session to be held on June 25 and, if passed, will take effect immediately.

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