This file photo shows the city of Jeju. (Yonhap)
JEJU, Jan. 3 (Korea Bizwire) — The provincial government of Jeju Island has expanded the coverage of a unique garage certificate system exclusive to the island, to all types of vehicles starting from January, and there are mixed expectations and concerns about the province’s latest decision.
The system makes it obligatory for vehicle owners to secure a garage or place to park when they purchase new vehicles, transfer ownership or change their residential address.
To purchase a vehicle, owners should secure a parking spot within a linear distance of 1 kilometer from their home.
This system was introduced to curb the increase in the number of vehicles as well as to alleviate parking and traffic problems.
There are 1.31 vehicles per household on Jeju Island, the highest rate among the nation’s cities and provinces, with the province’s per-capita vehicle ownership rate estimated at 0.595, the second-highest in the country.
In a survey conducted by the provincial government of 1,005 residents last year, 86.2 percent of the respondents said that residential areas have serious parking problems.
For those who want to have their own vehicles without securing a parking space, there is an alternative option in which they can purchase vehicles if they lease spaces in public or private parking lots by bearing some costs.
Leasing a space in a public parking lot typically costs 660,000-900,000 won (US$554-756) per year, and the cost is similar for private parking lots.
Moreover, there are doubts about the efficacy of the system since there are many who park their vehicles in other spaces without using their pre-registered parking spot.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
