Kim Eojun Responds to Minshik's Law Excessive Punishment Debate: "The Excess Is on Your Side"

"Those Who Can't Tolerate Even the Most Reasonable Laws
Are the Ones Who Are Truly Excessive"

Broadcaster Kim Eojun
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy, reporter Kim Suwan] Amid ongoing controversy over excessive punishment under the "Minshik's Law," which mandates harsher penalties for accidents involving children under the age of 13 in school zones, broadcaster Kim Eojun pointed out, "There are people claiming excessive punishment for all sorts of reasons, but what is excessive is not Minshik's Law itself."

On May 5, during TBS Radio's "Kim Eojun's News Factory," Kim stated, "Those who cannot tolerate even the most reasonable laws if they cause potential inconvenience are the ones who are truly excessive."

He continued, "Have you ever collided with someone while running at full speed? If the other person is an adult and you bump knees, both would feel pain for days. If the other person is a child, they could be thrown a considerable distance."

He added, "A speed of 30 km/h is 8.3 meters per second, which is the pace to cover 100 meters in about 12 seconds. If a healthy adult track athlete runs 100 meters in 12 seconds and a child suddenly runs onto the track and collides head-on, the child would tumble and, in most cases, suffer serious injuries."

Finally, he said, "The curb weight of a Sonata is about 1.5 tons. What do you think would happen if 1.5 tons at that speed hit a child? That is what a speed of 30 km/h means," he added.

Meanwhile, Minshik's Law refers to the amended Road Traffic Act and the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes, which were revised to reduce traffic accidents involving children in school zones.

This legislation was proposed in the National Assembly following the death of Kim Minshik, who lost his life in a traffic accident at a crosswalk in front of an elementary school in Asan, South Chungcheong Province, in September last year. The revised law passed the plenary session in December last year and has been in effect since March 25.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.