Land ministry clears parking robots for apartment complexes

The land ministry said Wednesday it revised housing construction rules to allow the installation of parking robots in apartment complexes, provided the project plan approval authority approves. The amendment defines automated transfer devices as a valid form of mechanical parking equipment, enabling the system to lift and move vehicles into parking spaces after passengers have disembarked.

Under the new guidelines, such systems may be installed if the official responsible for approving business plans determines they will not negatively impact the living environment. The updated rules include specific safety standards, requiring manual override controls for emergencies and sensors to detect obstacles or opening car doors.

The ministry had been preparing these regulations since March, drawing on results from pilot projects and discussions at a presidential meeting on regulatory rationalization held last September to address the need for deregulation.

"This revision is an important first step in laying the institutional groundwork for parking robot new technologies to settle in the field," said Jeong Chae-gyo, the ministry's comprehensive transport policy director. He added that the agency would continue pushing for traffic innovation policies that match the speed of technological change so citizens can feel the benefits.

The amended Rule on Housing Construction Standards took effect immediately upon its promulgation on July 29. The changes apply to any business plan approval requests submitted after the enforcement date, including those where approval is deemed granted under other laws.