People blocking parking spots with their bodies: Is legal punishment possible?
Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
At a glance
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Context piece
- People are increasingly occupying parking spaces with their bodies instead of cars, but current laws make it difficult to punish them directly.
- Online communities are filled with complaints from people who have been harmed by individuals blocking parking spots.
- While a bill to prohibit such actions and impose fines was proposed, it did not pass into law.
A growing trend of people physically occupying parking spaces to reserve them for arriving vehicles is causing frustration, but legal recourse remains limited. Online forums are abuzz with stories of individuals blocking spots, with one user recounting being told to park elsewhere because a "husband's car is coming." Another shared an experience of someone "claiming the spot with just a word, 'The car is coming,' and not moving."
The car is coming, so park somewhere else.
Public reaction online is largely critical, with commenters questioning the validity of a parking spot being claimed by a person. Some deem the "human staking" of car spaces "senseless" and attribute the behavior to a lack of legal consequences. While a revision to the parking lot law was proposed to ban such actions and impose fines up to 5 million won, it failed to become law.
The car is coming, so park somewhere else.
Current laws, such as the Road Traffic Act, are difficult to apply directly to private parking lots or general buildings, as they primarily aim to prevent dangers and obstructions on public roads. Even with CCTV footage, police lack the legal basis to immediately remove individuals or issue fines. The application of the Criminal Act for obstruction of business is also limited, typically requiring interference with the parking lot manager's duties or the presence of assault and threats.
Does a parking spot become yours just because someone is standing there?
DistantNews Editorial
Originally published by Dong-A Ilbo in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.
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