Koreatown, one of the hardest places to park in Los Angeles, faces a worsening Koreatown parking shortage as some apartment owners seek to convert open, ground-level parking areas into accessory dwelling units (ADUs). The push is intensifying conflicts between landlords and tenants, with tenant advocates and the Korean American Federation of Los Angeles (KAFLA) warning that removing parking without alternatives will inconvenience residents and discourage visitors.
The shortage has long been tied to older apartments with insufficient facilities, limited space for multi-unit housing, a lack of public parking structures, and the loss of street spaces during new construction. Residents say that if even the remaining open lots vanish, the strain will become unbearable.
The Los Angeles Times and other outlets reported on tenants resisting one landlord’s attempt to turn a first-floor open lot into ADUs. Tenants, including Korean Americans, who have lived there for years said losing their spots would make finding parking feel “like picking stars from the sky.”
Daily struggles are common. Many residents circle their neighborhoods late at night, sometimes leaving cars three to four blocks away. Some disputes over spaces escalate into arguments. In April 2019, a standoff between two drivers fighting for a single parallel spot lasted 90 minutes and was broadcast live on Twitter. In April 2025, the Americana Brand meme account ranked Koreatown first in a citywide “Worst Parking Tournament,” ahead of the Hollywood Bowl.
Data confirms the pressure. Between January 2024 and February 2025, Koreatown recorded 93,832 parking tickets—an average of 221 per day—the third-highest in Los Angeles, following Downtown and Westlake, according to Crosstown.
Residents argue ADU conversions benefit only landlords. Faith Jung said, “If you can’t find a parking spot in Koreatown, you must be ready to get a ticket,” adding that assigned spaces are a necessity, not a luxury. The Korean American Federation of Los Angeles (KAFLA) opposes SB 1211, which permits ADU conversions, and AB 2097, which eliminates minimum parking requirements for new housing and mixed-use projects.
Jeff Lee, KAFLA’s Secretary General, said removing even the limited parking that exists would leave tenants endlessly searching. “Residents are already fighting daily parking wars,” he said. “If minimum parking rules are abolished, Koreatown will inevitably become a place people avoid.”
BY HYOUNGJAE KIM [kim.ian@koreadaily.com]
