Shared parking spots previously available only on weekday daytime hours will open around the clock starting in July — drivers can reserve vacant resident-priority spaces via app while owners are away at work or out
Gangnam-gu (district mayor Jo Seong-myeong) will expand its "smart shared parking" service — which makes use of idle resident-priority parking spaces — to operate 24 hours a day, 365 days a year starting July 1.
Previously available only on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., the service will now allow drivers to search for and reserve available spaces through a mobile app on weekends, public holidays and at night.
The smart shared parking service works by having resident-priority parking permit holders register the hours their space will be vacant — while they are at work or out on errands — so other drivers can book and use the spot. By connecting empty spaces with drivers who need them, the program boosts the efficiency of existing parking infrastructure and helps ease parking shortages.
As of late May, 2,051 resident-priority spaces were enrolled in the smart sharing program, with 66,631 registered users. However, because permit holders manually register their own vacancy windows, the actual number of available spaces and hours fluctuates constantly.
The district plans to gradually expand participation until all 3,800 standard resident-priority spaces are available for sharing.
Using the service is straightforward. Drivers install either the "Parking Friends" or "Parking With" app on their smartphone, search for available spaces near their destination, select a spot, make a reservation, pay the fee and park during the reserved window.
Ahead of the round-the-clock expansion, the district will launch an intensive public awareness campaign so residents can easily learn about the new hours and how to use the service. Starting in June, the district will produce video and image content explaining the service concept and app procedures, broadcasting it on repeat on monitors in the district office and neighborhood community center service counters, as well as major digital billboards in high-traffic areas. The information will also be distributed through a range of online and offline channels.
"Solving the urban parking shortage requires not only building new parking facilities but also finding smarter ways to use the spaces we already have," district mayor Jo said. "We will continue to promote shared parking to reduce the everyday parking inconvenience residents face, and consistently expand the parking options available close to where people live."
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