"Please Follow the Minsik Act" Elementary Students in Front of School Still 'Dangerously' [Reporter Han Goes]

25t Cargo Truck Causes School Zone Accident in Incheon with 'Illegal Right Turn'
10-Year-Old Elementary Student Dies... Driver's Arrest Warrant Requested
One Year Before Minsik Law Enforcement, 'Safety Negligence Persists'

A school zone in front of a school in Seoul. Although it is one year before the enforcement of the Min-sik Act on the 25th, the school zone is filled with illegal parking. Photo by Han Seung-gon hsg@asiae.co.kr

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon] "If you think about the children, you can never engage in illegal parking or speeding."

Recently, a truck driver in Incheon hit and killed an elementary school student, raising concerns about the effectiveness of the Min-sik Act. Critics argue that unless drivers’ awareness improves, such tragic accidents can happen anytime. Although laws and regulations exist, if they are not properly followed, they become meaningless.

On the 19th, the Jungbu Police Station in Incheon announced that they had applied for an arrest warrant for Mr. A on charges of causing death in a child protection zone under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes. Mr. A is accused of hitting and killing a 10-year-old elementary school student, Ms. B, who was crossing a crosswalk in front of an elementary school in Sinheung-dong, Jung-gu, Incheon, at around 1:50 p.m. on the 18th with a 25-ton truck. Ms. B was immediately transported to a nearby hospital by the 119 emergency medical team but ultimately passed away.

It was investigated that Mr. A violated the Road Traffic Act regulation requiring drivers to "slow down along the right edge of the road and make a right turn," by making an illegal right turn from the second lane, which is a straight lane, out of three lanes going one way.

Because of this, there are criticisms that even with the strengthened penalties under the Min-sik Act, it is practically ineffective. Illegal parking remains a problem as well. Especially in the case of trucks, which block the view of other drivers, if elementary students suddenly dart into the child protection zone (School Zone), the driver of the large truck cannot properly recognize them from the driver's seat, increasing the risk of accidents.

A cargo truck is illegally parked in a school zone. Recently, in Incheon, a cargo truck hit and killed an elementary school student in a school zone, but among accidents in school zones, accidents involving cargo trucks are especially fatal because the drivers cannot see the elementary students at all. Photo by Han Seunggon hsg@asiae.co.kr

According to the Min-sik Act, if a traffic accident occurs in a school zone causing injury to a child, the driver faces imprisonment from one year to fifteen years and a fine ranging from 5 million to 30 million KRW. If the child dies, the driver is subject to life imprisonment or imprisonment for three years or more, imposing much harsher penalties than for general traffic accidents involving children.

However, as seen in the recent accident in Incheon, safety negligence in school zones persists. A recent visit by reporters to a school zone in Seoul revealed that illegal parking made the area resemble a parking lot. If a vehicle enters the school zone and an elementary student is passing behind a parked vehicle, it creates a dangerous situation where an accident could occur.

Citizens who witnessed the scene voiced criticism in unison. Mr. Kim, a man in his 30s who said he works in Seoul, said, "In the end, even if there are laws, if people do not follow them and violate them, the damage falls on our citizens, especially children," adding, "Even if penalties are strengthened, there are still violators, so it is truly a problem."

Between vehicles illegally parked in the school zone, the "School Zone Speed Limit" sign is visible. Parking is prohibited in this area from the start, but it seems that people disregard the speed limit sign indicating the school zone. Photo by Seunggon Han hsg@asiae.co.kr

Mr. Choi, a man in his 40s with two elementary school children, said, "School zones were created to protect children, and the Min-sik Act was enacted because accidents still happen," adding, "But with illegal parking and accidents happening like this, as a parent raising children, I cannot help but feel anxious. I sincerely hope the Min-sik Act is properly observed."

According to Seoul City, over the past three years, there have been 4,272 traffic accidents involving children, of which 272 (6.4%) occurred within protection zones. Although 1,748 child protection zones are designated in Seoul, traffic accidents involving children still occur even within school zones.

There are also calls for urgent improvement in drivers’ awareness regarding proper compliance with the Min-sik Act. A local police official said, "Illegal parking blocks drivers’ blind spots, inevitably increasing the risk of accidents," emphasizing, "Especially in school zones, before imposing fines and penalties, drivers themselves must have the awareness to protect children’s safety."

Meanwhile, local governments are making multifaceted efforts to prevent accidents in school zones. Han Je-hyun, Director of Seoul City’s Safety General Office, said, "Through safety inspections, we are working to prevent risk factors in various places in advance and to establish a culture of safety," adding, "We will carefully examine walking routes and surrounding environments to ensure safe commutes for children, and we ask citizens to drive slowly and safely within child protection zones."

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