Gongju City in South Korea has implemented the nation's first vertical parking lines to help drivers align vehicles during reverse parking [1].
The initiative addresses a common urban struggle by providing a low-cost, high-efficiency visual aid that reduces the risk of collisions. By extending parking markers from the floor up the rear wall, the city aims to help drivers maintain safe distances between vehicles without requiring expensive electronic equipment [1].
The project began as a pilot installation in November 2023 [1]. These three-dimensional lines are painted from the ground up to the rear wall of the parking space, creating a clear visual corridor for the driver to follow [1].
City officials deployed the system across four public parking facilities [1]. These locations include the Geumseong-dong Cheongsong Villa public parking lot, the Singwan public parking tower, the Jung-dong public parking tower, and the Heuksu-gol-gil public parking lot [1].
The scale of the rollout covers approximately 480 parking spaces [1]. Because the solution relies on paint rather than hardware, the installation cost is approximately 6,000 KRW per parking space [1].
This approach allows the city to improve infrastructure safety and driver convenience with minimal capital investment. The vertical markers act as a physical reference point, allowing drivers to judge their position relative to the boundaries of the spot more accurately than with floor markings alone [1].
“the nation's first vertical parking lines to help drivers align vehicles”
This pilot demonstrates a shift toward 'analog' urban interventions to solve technical driving challenges. By leveraging simple visual psychology and low-cost materials, Gongju City is testing whether basic infrastructure changes can replace the need for expensive sensor-based guidance systems in public parking management.
