This Year, CCTV in Children's Protection Zones Expanded to 1,000 Units... Coverage Extended to All Elementary Schools, Kindergartens, and Daycare Centers

2 Years of Minsik Law, Perfect School Zones Completed... Zero Death and Serious Injury Accidents Targeted from 2022
Strict Measures Against Illegal Parking in Child Protection Zones Without Exceptions, Fines Increased Up to 3 Times

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] The Seoul Metropolitan Government will expand the number of closed-circuit (CC) TVs in school zones to 1,000 this year to establish a thorough monitoring system and will triple fines for illegal parking and stopping, enforcing strict measures without exceptions. The city will launch the Seoul-type School Zone 532 Project, lowering speed limits by 20 km/h and paving entire roads with design blocks to enhance safety.

On the 2nd, marking two years since the implementation of the Min-sik Act, Seoul announced the "2021 Seoul City School Zone Comprehensive Plan," aiming to create a "zero-defect" school zone with no child fatalities or serious injuries.

Seoul will first strengthen and intensify enforcement against illegal parking and speeding while improving traffic accident blind spots such as congested side streets and crosswalks. In the first year of the Min-sik Act’s enforcement last year, 417 illegal roadside parking spaces were completely abolished, and 484 speed enforcement cameras were installed.

As fines for illegal parking have increased up to three times compared to general roads, Seoul will strengthen enforcement and add 400 more speed cameras in the first half of the year. Including last year’s installations, the total will exceed 1,000 cameras by the end of the year, covering not only all elementary schools but also kindergartens and daycare centers at risk of accidents. From February 2 to 19, the school opening season, a joint city and district enforcement team of 250 members will conduct focused crackdowns, and 40 additional 24-hour illegal parking enforcement cameras will be installed this year following last year’s additions.

Furthermore, on side streets without sidewalks where vehicles and children share the road, the speed limit will be lowered to 20 km/h, and design block paving and benches will be installed. Crosswalks will be made more visible by installing advanced sensors that display real-time hazard information, LED lights, and block-type yellow carpets to prevent accidents.

At Isu Elementary School near Sadang Station in Seocho-gu, although there is a sidewalk on the right side of the main gate fence, it is less than 1.0 meter wide and blocked by protective fences, making it inconvenient to use. As a result, children and residents often walk on the road, creating dangerous situations. Seoul plans to reconstruct this path as a pedestrian space for children through the "School Zone 532" project by installing a small exhibition space and benches along the fence without separating the sidewalk and roadway.

Additionally, in areas with accidents or risks such as Siheung Elementary School in Geumcheon-gu, Jamjeon Elementary School in Songpa-gu, Seongeun Daycare Center in Guro-gu, Gayang Elementary School in Gangseo-gu, Nokbeon Elementary School in Eunpyeong-gu, Sinhyeon Elementary School in Jungnang-gu, Yeonghwa Elementary School in Dongjak-gu, and Gyeongdong Elementary School in Seongdong-gu, various ideas tailored to local conditions will be applied to promote projects.

Moreover, Seoul will prepare separate routes for children who commute from distant locations for each school, and 644 traffic safety instructors will accompany children on their way to and from school. The safety support system with traffic safety instructors accompanying children is expected to be especially effective in vulnerable areas such as residential neighborhoods with frequent construction vehicle movements or many building parking lot entrances and exits.

Based on these measures, starting next year, Seoul plans to eliminate all accident risk factors within school zones to prevent fatalities or serious injuries. The city will closely cooperate with the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency and 25 autonomous districts to thoroughly implement this comprehensive plan.

Hwang Bo-yeon, Director of the Seoul City Urban Transportation Office, said, “We will continue to prepare more thorough measures to eradicate all factors threatening children’s pedestrian safety, such as speeding and illegal parking,” adding, “We will create school routes that anyone can feel safe on by developing school zones as pedestrian spaces not only for children but also for the elderly and vulnerable road users.”

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