"Clearing the Way for Business: Yeongju Fully Opens Base Parking Lot to the Public"

Safety Enhanced Through Integrated and Widened Ramps
Free Operation Expected to Boost Old Downtown Traffic

Yeongju City in North Gyeongsang Province announced that it has completed structural improvements to the 'Yeongju-dong Base Parking Lot,' which had been criticized for user inconvenience and safety issues, and will open it completely free of charge to citizens beginning April 6, 2026.

Yeongju City has completed the improvement construction of the 'Yeongjudong Hub Parking Lot' and will open it free of charge starting from the 6th (parking lot entrance).

Located in the Yeongju-dong area, this parking lot is a core facility in the city's old downtown, with a total floor area of 4,805 square meters and 158 parking spaces. Previously, concerns had been consistently raised due to the narrow width of the ramps and the complex traffic flow, which made it difficult for vehicles to pass each other and increased the risk of accidents.

To address these problems, the city began dismantling the existing facility in March 2025 and launched a comprehensive improvement project. Notably, the ramps, which had been dispersed, were integrated into a single structure and widened, resulting in a complete redesign of the layout to simplify vehicle movement and improve visibility. Construction began in June 2025 and was completed in December of the same year, followed by a final repainting and inspection in March 2026 to accommodate the changed traffic flow within the lot.

The core of this improvement project lies in 'tangible safety.' By eliminating bottleneck sections and enhancing the turning radius and entry routes, the parking lot now provides an environment where even novice drivers can use it with ease. The focus of the policy went beyond simply upgrading the facility and was aimed at resolving actual user inconveniences, making the project especially meaningful.

Furthermore, the decision to open the parking lot for free is linked to the strategy of revitalizing the old downtown area. It is expected to serve as a 'community-oriented infrastructure' by reducing the parking burden for customers of traditional markets and local shops, improving accessibility, and ultimately encouraging longer stays and increased consumption.

Kim Joongsu, Head of the Transportation Administration Division at Yeongju City, stated, "This project focused not only on expanding parking capacity but also on practically addressing inconveniences that citizens experience in their daily lives. We will continue to enhance citizens' experience by creating a safe and convenient traffic environment."

This base parking lot improvement is seen as more than mere facility maintenance; it represents a 'small but decisive infrastructure innovation' that lays the foundation for restoring the old downtown's competitiveness. Now that accessibility and safety—the basic requirements—have been addressed, attention is turning to whether this will lead to tangible effects in revitalizing local commerce.

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