Seoul will standardize the methods and criteria for reporting electric-vehicle charging obstruction beginning next month, unifying systems that had varied across the city's district offices.
The Seoul Metropolitan Government said on the 9th that it had overhauled the system, following consultations with the city's 25 district offices, so that residents' reports would be received through the Ministry of the Interior and Safety's "Safety Report" and Seoul's "Seoul Smart Complaint Report" apps. Reporting requirements were also unified under the Safety Report standard.
Accordingly, the methods for documenting violations will also be standardized. The city clarified the criteria for materials to be submitted by type, such as prolonged parking after charging is complete or double parking. In particular, for double parking, submitting a video was made mandatory so that situations obstructing vehicle movement can be verified.
Electric-vehicle charging obstruction is regulated under the "Act on the Development and Distribution of Environment-Friendly Vehicles." Fines are imposed when violations are detected, including parking ordinary vehicles in charging zones, leaving vehicles for extended periods after charging is complete, placing objects in charging zones or access roads, and double parking.
Concerns had been consistently raised that citizen inconvenience and administrative confusion arose because reporting apps and documentation standards for photos and videos differed by district.
The Seoul Metropolitan Government plans to fully implement the unified standards from next month, following administrative notices by each district office this month.
Seoul will also run a "Charging Consideration Citizen Campaign" from the 10th through the end of the year. The aim is to move away from fine-centered enforcement and to encourage the spread of a voluntary charging culture through citizen participation.
Citizens can participate in the campaign through the Eco Mileage website and can receive 100 to 1,000 Eco Mileage points based on activities such as taking a charging consideration pledge, participating in related quizzes, and moving their vehicle immediately after charging is complete. However, the "immediate departure" activity applies only to owners of vehicles using chargers.
"By unifying resident reporting standards, we expect to reduce citizen inconvenience and administrative confusion, and we hope a voluntary charging consideration culture will take root through the participatory campaign," said Kwon Min, head of the Seoul Metropolitan Government's Climate and Environment Headquarters.
