Our society is experiencing a continuous decline in population and an aggravation of low birth rates, which increases the need for policy responses to support families and childcare. Accordingly, the government has promoted core tasks in three major a...
Our society is experiencing a continuous decline in population and an aggravation of low birth rates, which increases the need for policy responses to support families and childcare. Accordingly, the government has promoted core tasks in three major areas—work-life balance, education and care, and housing—through the "Countermeasures to Reverse Low Birth Rate Trends." As part of these measures, the government sought to introduce exclusive parking spaces for families with Infants and children to alleviate inconveniences such as narrow parking spaces and safety concerns. Currently, domestic laws regulate exclusive parking spaces for persons with disabilities, compact cars, and eco-friendly vehicles, but there is no legal basis for exclusive parking spaces for families with Infants and children. While some local governments and private facilities voluntarily operate systems for exclusive parking spaces for such families, limitations exist in ensuring uniformity and effectiveness. Thus, the necessity of providing practical benefits for families with Infants and children and introducing a systematic policy has been increasingly emphasized.This study aims to propose legal and institutional measures for introducing exclusive parking spaces for families with Infants and children. Specifically, the objectives of the study are: (1) to develop alternatives for the introduction of exclusive parking spaces for families with Infants and children, (2) to devise detailed alternatives for installation targets, scales, and penalty regulations, (3) to establish standards for installing exclusive parking spaces, and (4) to propose legislative amendments to facilitate the introduction of such parking spaces.
In Chapter 2, analyzes the current status and legal framework of exclusive parking systems in Korea. Relevant laws stipulate the installation of exclusive parking spaces based on vehicle types and user characteristics, with major regulations including the 「Parking Lot Act」, 「Enforcement Decree of The Act on Promotion of Development and Distribution of Environment-Friendly Motor Vehicles」, and 「Act On the Guarantee of Convenience Promotion of Persons with Disabilities, Senior Citizens, Pregnant Women and Nursing Mothers」. These laws regulate parking spaces for compact cars, motorcycles, eco-friendly vehicles and persons with disabilities. Local government ordinances also include provisions for exclusive parking spaces for pregnant women, the elderly, families, and persons of national merit. However, these ordnances are limited to voluntary operation by local governments and lack a clear legal basis, resulting in fragmented implementation. Particularly, parking spaces for persons with disabilities are legally mandated, while compact and eco-friendly vehicle parking spaces are based on vehicle-specific standards. Exclusive parking spaces specified in local ordinances, such as those for pregnant women or families, lack consistency and legal enforcement.
In Chapter 3, examines cases from Japan, the United States, and the United Kingdom, including exclusive parking spaces for families with Infants and children. Japan operates parking spaces for wheelchair users and other vulnerable groups through the 「Barrier-Free Act」 and “the Parking Permit system”. The United States enforces parking spaces for persons with disabilities under the 「Americans with Disabilities Act」 (ADA), while private facilities voluntarily provide parking spaces for pregnant women and families with Infants and children. In the United Kingdom, the Blue Badge Scheme supports parking spaces for persons with disabilities, while facilities such as supermarkets and shopping centers voluntarily operate "Parent and Child Parking" or "Family Parking" spaces. Both the U.S. and the U.K. have considered legalizing exclusive parking spaces for families with Infants and children but encountered difficulties due to challenges in defining beneficiaries, ensuring equity, and managing enforcement, leading to reliance on voluntary participation supported by social consensus.
Chapter 4 specifies alternatives for the legal framework necessary to institutionalize exclusive parking spaces for families with Infants and children. These alternatives were derived by synthesizing findings from domestic and international analyses, stakeholder opinions, and statistical reviews on parking-related issues. Key measures include establishing a legal basis under the 「Parking Lot Act」 or other laws, such as the 「Act On the Guarantee of Convenience Promotion of Persons with Disabilities, Senior Citizens, Pregnant Women and Nursing Mothers」, 「Infant Care Act」, or 「Mother and Child Health Act」. Target beneficiaries could be defined as families with children under six or preschool-aged children, and eligible facilities could include both newly constructed and existing public and multi-use buildings. Installation standards should address parking ratios, dimensions, accessibility, safety, signage placement, and guidelines for issuing certifications or markers to prevent misuse. Legal measures to address violations and enforce standards were also considered.In Chapter 5, legislative amendments to introduce exclusive parking spaces for families with Infants and children were proposed. Based on expert opinion surveys, the necessity of applying these provisions to both newly constructed and existing buildings, the anticipated degree of parking conflicts, and installation standards were analyzed. Simulations conducted in commercial and public facility parking lots evaluated the feasibility and optimal allocation ratios for exclusive parking spaces within existing facilities. Using these findings, amendments to the 「Parking Lot Act」 and 「Act On the Guarantee of Convenience Promotion of Persons with Disabilities, Senior Citizens, Pregnant Women and Nursing Mothers」 were proposed as the legal foundation for implementing this system. Three phased legislative amendment alternatives were suggested: (1) establishing a legal basis for exclusive parking spaces for families with Infants and children (Alternative 1), (2) extending the application to include existing parking lots (Alternative 2), and (3) introducing penalty provisions for violations in existing parking facilities (Alternative 3).
Each alternative encompasses a flexible approach at the initial stages to ensure social acceptance, transitioning toward increased enforceability to enhance effectiveness. These proposals aim to facilitate the installation of exclusive parking spaces and the establishment of user management systems in both public and private facilities, ensuring the effective dissemination and sustainability of the policy. The proposed three-step legislative amendments require phased implementation, with detailed measures tailored to situational and policy demands during each stage. Initially, respecting regional autonomy and laying the policy foundation are essential. Through comprehensive review and evaluation, gradual enforcement and mandatory implementation will minimize parking conflicts, foster public consensus, and provide families with Infants and children practical and effective lifestyle benefits as part of a comprehensive incentive system.This study confirms the necessity of institutionalizing exclusive parking spaces for families with Infants and children to ensure mobility and safety in response to the era of declining birth rates. It provides a policy framework by proposing legal, technical, and operational considerations for establishing these exclusive parking spaces, thus laying the foundation for further policy discussions. The significance of this study lies in its contribution to addressing the mobility needs of families with Infants and children and initiating critical policy discussions. However, the study was constrained by limited time and budget, which restricted in-depth interviews with families and experts. Furthermore, it did not comprehensively address all legal, technical, and operational aspects of implementing exclusive parking spaces, which highlights the need for further research to address these limitations
In the short term, several research priorities are needed for the effective and practical introduction of exclusive parking spaces for families with Infants and children. First, it is essential to clarify and detail subordinate regulations on installation standards, eligible users, certification systems, and operational responsibilities to ensure successful implementation. Second, strategies should be developed to mitigate potential parking conflicts arising from the introduction of these spaces, including examining the feasibility of shared use with existing exclusive parking systems. Lastly, a continuous monitoring system should be established to evaluate policy effectiveness and improve implementation through data-driven solutions.In addition to addressing the specific needs of families with Infants and children, this study reveals broader systemic issues in parking management, requiring long-term policy research to improve existing frameworks. First, national and local governments need to establish a centralized database (DB) system for systematically managing parking data. Second, the current building-centric parking facility installation and management system fails to consider regional parking demand, underscoring the need for integrated, region-wide parking strategies. Finally, it is necessary to develop conflict prevention and management manuals and establish governance systems in which public and private stakeholders collaborate to mediate and resolve disputes. Such systems would help address significant public dissatisfaction caused by insufficient parking spaces and conflicts arising from the use of exclusive parking spaces.By addressing the challenges related to parking facility installation, management, social conflict resolution, legislative improvements, spatial limitations, public awareness, and technological adoption, the proposed follow-up research aims to reduce public dissatisfaction and social costs associated with parking. Ultimately, it is hoped that these efforts will contribute to creating a more efficient and inclusive parking environment in society.
Keyword : Era of Low Birth Rates, family-friendly benefits for everyday life, Families with Infants and Children, Exclusive Parking Spaces, Standards for Parking Space