[Issue] "Disabled Sent to the Basement"... Nam-gu District in Gwangju Creates 'Director's Exclusive Parking Space'

In response to petitions from the daycare center and Facility Management Corporation,

the district closed two disabled parking spaces in the annex

Relocated to the 2nd basement and 5th floors of the main building

After creating a dedicated space for the corporation, the director took exclusive use

Nam-gu says, "Parking lot operation is the corporation's responsibility," turning a blind eye

It has been confirmed that Nam-gu District in Gwangju closed disabled parking spaces installed above ground in order to secure a dedicated parking space for the director of the Facility Management Corporation, relocating the disabled parking spaces to the basement.

The so-called “dedicated parking space for the corporation,” which was originally created to improve convenience for civil petitioners, is in reality being used almost exclusively as a parking space for the director. Critics point out that, while the district claims “the operation of the parking lot falls under the corporation’s responsibility,” it is neglecting sensitivity to disability rights.

On the 21st, the vehicle of Director A from the Facility Management Corporation was parked in Byeolgandong, Nam-gu, Gwangju. Photo by Min Chanki

According to Nam-gu District in Gwangju on April 21, the district spent approximately 2.38 million won from its budget on April 11 to remove two disabled parking spaces located in the annex building of the district office. In their place, one parking space each was allocated for the workplace daycare center and the Facility Management Corporation. The two disabled parking spaces were relocated to the 2nd basement and 5th floors of the main building.

Previously, in 2024, Nam-gu District moved all nine electric vehicle charging stations, which had been located in the basement of the main building, to the annex due to concerns about electric vehicle fires. As a result, the annex parking lot had been operating with a total of 12 spaces, comprising three disabled parking spaces and nine electric vehicle charging stations.

However, because there were no general parking spaces, parents dropping off and picking up children at the daycare center, as well as those transporting daycare teaching materials and meals, experienced inconvenience in accessing the facility.

In response, the Nam-gu Branch of the National Public Officials Union in Gwangju continuously requested an increase in the number of parking spaces. As a result, one dedicated parking space for the workplace daycare center was recently secured.

Gwangju Namgu recently closed two parking spaces exclusively for disabled individuals located on the ground floor of the annex and created disabled-only parking spaces on the 2nd basement and 5th floors of the main building. Photo by Min Chanki

The problem is that, even after moving the disabled parking spaces to the basement, the Facility Management Corporation’s parking space is being used virtually exclusively by Director A of the corporation.

Separately from the daycare center, Nam-gu District also created a dedicated parking space for the corporation in response to the needs of both general civil petitioners and the corporation.

In fact, a recent post on the “Suggestions to the District Head” section of the Nam-gu District Office’s website read: “Because the Facility Management Corporation is located in the annex building of the district office, I was told by staff prior to my visit that I needed to use the underground parking lot and then move to the annex. It seems necessary to provide temporary business parking guidance or secure a space for vehicles visiting on business, such as those picking up volume-based waste bags.”

Nam-gu District explained that, as the number of vehicles from civil petitioners purchasing volume-based waste bags from the Facility Management Corporation increased, a separate dedicated parking space was created in the parking lot and its operation was delegated to the corporation.

However, since its installation, the corporation’s dedicated parking space has effectively become the “director’s exclusive parking lot,” as a luxury sedan, presumed to belong to Director A, is frequently parked there.

This has raised criticism that the district is prioritizing protocol for the head of the affiliated institution, even at the cost of moving disabled parking spaces to the basement.

An official from Nam-gu District stated, “We have received complaints from residents visiting the annex to purchase volume-based waste bags who have experienced inconvenience with parking. Since it is a dedicated parking lot for the Facility Management Corporation, management of the parking is handled by the corporation.”

Regarding this issue, Director A said, “The parking space in question was secured after continuously requesting it from Nam-gu District due to complaints that civil petitioners were experiencing inconvenience when purchasing volume-based waste bags. It was finally established about six months after the corporation was founded. When there are no civil petitioners, I occasionally use it during vacant times. If the corporation’s work increases and traffic grows, I plan to request additional parking spaces or seek other solutions.”

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