The Hongdae Red Road “Kickboard-Free Zone” is an area in Hongdae, Seoul, where electric kickboards are prohibited to ensure pedestrian safety.
(Image courtesy of the Seoul Metropolitan Government)
SEOUL, May 12 (Korea Bizwire) — Starting May 16, Seoul will implement the nation’s first designated no-go zones for electric scooters and similar personal mobility devices in two bustling areas: Hongdae Red Road in Mapo District and the Banpo private education district in Seocho District, city officials announced Monday.
The pilot initiative, jointly launched by the Seoul Metropolitan Government and Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, will ban the operation of electric scooters, self-balancing electric vehicles, and fully motorized e-bikes from 12 p.m. to 11 p.m. daily.
The move comes amid mounting public concerns over pedestrian safety and traffic congestion caused by the rapid proliferation of e-scooters.
The restricted zones were selected following a 2024 public survey in which 79.2% of respondents reported inconvenience due to others’ scooter use—chiefly citing collision risks, which 75% of participants identified as the most pressing concern.
The two sites were designated after consultations with local districts, traffic safety committees, and citizen groups, including the Green Mothers’ Society and the Model Drivers’ Association.
Seoul officials used big data to analyze peak congestion times in each area—afternoons and evenings in Hongdae, and after-school hours in Banpo—to determine enforcement hours.
Electric scooters (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
In Hongdae, the restriction will apply only to the main pedestrian sections (R1–R6), excluding surrounding residential streets. Violators will face a 30,000-won fine and 15 demerit points, or 60,000 won and 30 points if the offense occurs in a school zone.
Although enforcement begins this week, authorities plan a five-month grace period focused on public education. For the first month, 120 personnel will be deployed during peak hours to guide riders and raise awareness.
Additionally, illegally parked scooters within and near the designated zones will be subject to immediate towing.
The city government plans to evaluate the effectiveness of the initiative by September and will consider expanding the program to other districts based on the results.
“We are committed to creating a safer walking environment for our citizens,” said Yeo Jang-kwon, head of Seoul’s Transportation Division.
Ashley Song (ashley@koreabizwire.com)
