Fixed CCTV operating hours to shift to 9 a.m.–9 p.m. from Sept. 9, cutting three hours from current schedule; lunchtime enforcement grace period extended to 3 p.m.; bans on prohibited zones and traffic-obstructing vehicles to remain in force
Dongdaemun-gu in Seoul announced it will extend the grace period for illegal parking and stopping enforcement to ease resident inconvenience, revitalize local alley commerce and improve access for visitors to traditional markets.
The district had previously suspended fixed CCTV enforcement of illegal parking during lunchtime, but residents complained that the existing grace period — 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. — was still too short to meaningfully reduce inconvenience or support local businesses.
Enforcement beginning as early as 7 a.m. during the morning commute had also placed a heavy fine burden on residents and contributed to widespread enforcement fatigue.
Particularly affected were dual-income couples with elementary school children, who frequently received fines — three times higher than standard zone penalties — for briefly stopping in school zones while dropping off or picking up their children.
In response, the district will extend the lunchtime grace period by 30 minutes to 3 p.m. and adjust fixed CCTV operating hours from the current 7 a.m.–10 p.m. window to 9 a.m.–9 p.m.
The district said the changes are expected to support the local economy — including alley shops, small restaurants and traditional markets — and reduce the enforcement burden on drivers who park briefly for unavoidable reasons such as passenger drop-offs or package delivery. The measures, including the expanded grace period, take effect Sept. 9. However, enforcement will continue against vehicles that obstruct pedestrian movement or traffic flow, as well as those violating no-parking zones under the Road Traffic Act — including sidewalks, crosswalks, intersection corners, safety zones, bus stops, fire hydrants, fire engine access roads and school zones. On-site enforcement will also continue, focusing on vehicles illegally parked for extended periods that are disrupting traffic.
Since May, the district has operated a pre-enforcement broadcast system in which field officers announce an impending crackdown and urge drivers to move their vehicles before citations are issued — a measure that has drawn positive feedback from residents.
"Illegal parking enforcement is not about collecting fines — it is about ensuring pedestrian safety and maintaining smooth traffic conditions," Dongdaemun-gu District Mayor Choi Dong-min said. "Through this adjustment to CCTV enforcement hours, we aim to reduce the inconvenience residents actually feel while ensuring that enforcement remains effective where it truly matters."
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