Seongdong-gu “Walking School Bus Traffic Safety Instructors” Lead Children Safely

Recruitment of 69 Walking School Bus Traffic Safety Instructors from February 8 to 10
This Year’s Program Operates with the Largest Workforce and Budget Among Seoul Districts

A traffic safety instructor of the Seongdong-gu Walking School Bus is safely guiding children to and from school.

Number of Pedestrian Accidents by Autonomous Districts in Seoul

[Asia Economy, Reporter Park Jongil] Seongdong-gu's efforts to improve traffic safety are ongoing. Recognized as the safest autonomous district in Seoul in terms of traffic accidents, Seongdong-gu is strengthening its safety net for young students while promoting traffic safety through smart technologies such as smart crosswalks and smart school zones.

Seongdong-gu (District Mayor Jeong Won-oh) will hire 69 “Seongdong-gu Walking School Bus Traffic Safety Instructors” from February 8 to 10 to safely accompany elementary school children on their way to and from school.

The traffic safety instructors will guide first to third grade students at 18 elementary schools in the district during the morning commute from 8:00 to 9:00 a.m. and at dismissal time. Each instructor will be responsible for up to eight children and will be assigned to one of a total of 40 Walking School Bus routes.

Currently, Seongdong-gu operates the Walking School Bus program with the largest workforce and the highest budget among all autonomous districts in Seoul, with a budget of 430 million won.

In 2020, 67 traffic safety instructors were assigned to 17 elementary schools in the district, ensuring the safe commute of about 880 students. According to a user satisfaction survey, 94.8% of respondents expressed satisfaction. The program was highly rated for its educational effect in preventing traffic accidents among children, as well as for its support in guiding children from dual-income and multi-child families to and from school.

The district is listening to users’ feedback to further strengthen the safety net for children’s commutes. In response to requests to expand the program, including increasing the number of traffic safety instructors, the initiative has grown from serving first and second graders at two schools in 2012, to 18 schools in 2016, and to first through third graders in 2017.

Additionally, for students using the After-School Care Center called Aikkumnuriteo, the district has extended the return routes and plans to establish new routes for schools that apply, based on the 2021 demand survey.

Choi OO, a parent whose child uses the Walking School Bus, said, “If it weren’t for the Walking School Bus, it would have been really difficult. There were many changes to school schedules due to COVID-19, but I am grateful for the prompt notifications and responses. I especially feel reassured because I can check my child’s safety through the school commute notification service (KakaoTalk).”

Jeong Won-oh, Mayor of Seongdong-gu, stated, “As the Walking School Bus program is the largest in Seoul and a promise made to residents during my seventh term, I will strive to operate it even more effectively. We will continuously review routes and stops and listen to feedback from instructors, parents, and others to further improve the program.”

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