Suwon Receives Top Prize at Gyeonggi Province Regulatory Innovation Excellence Competition

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Jung Jun-sung] Suwon Special City received the Grand Prize on the 10th at the '2025 Gyeonggi Province Regulatory Innovation Excellence Competition' hosted by Gyeonggi Province.

The city was selected as the Grand Prize winner at the competition held at the Next-Generation Convergence Technology Research Institute on that day, presenting a case study on 'Exactly 1 Hour Free Parking Plus User-Focused Parking Policy - It Works.' The prize money is 20 million won.

The evaluation was conducted by combining scores from on-site review panel judges (90%) and public opinion survey results conducted May 19-25 (10%). The evaluation criteria included creativity, difficulty level, effectiveness, scalability potential, and presentation completeness.

The city presented a case study on promoting user-centered parking policies by providing free parking for the first hour at public parking lots to resolve inconveniences for citizens using public parking facilities, and introducing the 'Saebit Parking Pass,' a first-ever nationwide integrated public parking lot membership, among other initiatives.

Starting July 1 of last year, the city provided citizens parking at 46 public parking lots with free parking for the first hour to reduce parking fee burdens and allow convenient access to public parking facilities. After the first hour, parking rates per 10 minutes apply depending on the lot.

Following the implementation of the free first-hour parking benefit, public parking lot usage rates increased by 7% in the second half of last year compared to the first half. Additionally, traditional markets and alleyway commercial areas near public parking lots showed signs of revitalization.

In January of this year, the city introduced the 'Saebit Parking Pass,' an integrated membership allowing access to all 47 outdoor public parking lots operated by Suwon Urban Development Corporation. To enable citizens to conveniently use outdoor public parking lots, the city amended ordinances to create the nation's first integrated public parking lot membership.

A city official stated, "Through the implementation of free first-hour parking at public parking lots and the introduction of the Saebit Parking Pass, public parking lot usage has increased and local commercial areas have shown signs of revitalization," adding, "Going forward, we will actively innovate regulations that cause inconvenience to citizens."