Spatial patterns, implementation barriers, and facilitators in Seoul's E-scooter parking corral system: A mixed-methods analysis

The rapid rise of shared e-scooters has raised concerns about disorderly parking, which negatively impacts pedestrian safety and public space management. Consequently, many cities worldwide have recently introduced designated parking corrals; however, their implementation remains in its early stages and has received limited academic attention. This study examines the distribution of shared e-scooter parking corrals in Seoul, South Korea, using spatial analysis to assess their spatial inequality and alignment with demand. In addition, in-depth interviews with key stakeholders and an analysis of media coverage and policy documents identify the challenges and facilitating factors shaping corral implementation and explaining the observed spatial patterns. The findings reveal an overall shortage of e-scooter corrals and stark disparities across neighborhoods and districts, with only a few areas relatively well-served. A clear spatial mismatch emerges between e-scooter parking supply and demand. Qualitative analysis identifies multiple implementation barriers, many of which stem from Seoul's centralized governance structure and the absence of a national legal framework and an operator-permit system. These include a fragmented and non-binding regulatory framework, financial constraints, limited spatial availability, and the underutilization of existing corrals. Collectively, these factors hinder effective implementation and perpetuate the limited and uneven distribution of e-scooter parking infrastructure. Despite these challenges, this study finds that government-led multi-stakeholder collaboration can play a critical role in the effective implementation of e-scooter corrals. Drawing on these findings and situating them within a comparative context, this study proposes a policy framework for diagnosing and assessing the implementation capacity of e-scooter infrastructure policy in centralized governance contexts that lack a formal operator-permit system.