25.10.24.Today News : ₩18 Million Parking Fee for 2-Hour Stay…Public Lot Machine Glitch Sparks Outrage

₩18 Million Parking Fee for 2-Hour Stay…Public Lot Machine Glitch Sparks Outrage

📍Driver in Jamsil charged ₩18.1 million instead of ₩2,200 — “Amount changed right before my eyes”

A bizarre incident occurred at a public parking lot in Jamsil, Seoul, where a driver was charged over ₩18 million for just two hours of parking. The victim expressed anger at both the machine malfunction and the officials’ indifferent response.

An absurd incident occurred where a parking fee exceeding 18 million won was charged after parking for just two hours at a public parking lot.

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🔹₩18.1 Million Charged for 2 Hours of Parking
On the night of October 22, Mr. A parked his car at a roadside public lot in Jamsil-bondong, Songpa-gu, and went to a nearby restaurant. When he returned at 11:57 p.m. and checked the unmanned payment machine, the displayed fee was ₩2,200. But moments later, his credit card was charged ₩18,127,000.

“I entered my license plate, saw 2,200 won on the screen, then inserted my card. The amount suddenly changed and was processed immediately,” A said. “I received a text confirming that ₩18.1 million had been approved — I couldn’t believe it.”

🔹90 Minutes of Calls for Refund
Unable to reach the facility late at night, A spent the next morning contacting the Songpa Facilities Management Corporation, his credit card company, and the payment processor. After an hour and a half of phone calls, the transaction was finally canceled.

However, A said he became even more upset after hearing the staff member’s response. “After the refund, the employee asked, ‘What about the original 2,200 won?’ with no apology at all,” he said. “Mistakes can happen, but the lack of empathy was disappointing.”

🔹 Similar Incidents Reported
According to A, the issue wasn’t isolated. “The next day, another staff member told me that there had been other cases where people were charged millions by mistake,” he said. When asked for an explanation, the corporation reportedly said it was “a parking time recognition error in the unmanned system.”

Experts pointed out that such incidents highlight the risks of automated payment systems. They stressed the need for proper inspection and software verification to prevent similar errors.

“I was terrified after seeing such a huge amount get charged instantly,” A said. “Public systems should be managed with the same responsibility as private services.”

One-line summary : A Seoul driver was mistakenly charged ₩18 million for two hours of parking, sparking outrage over the malfunctioning system and the officials’ poor response.