Muan-gun, No Administrative Services Available for the Visually Impaired

Lack of Braille Blocks at Crosswalk Boundary Zones Poses Danger

Welfare Team Official Unaware of Installation Plans

Mu-an County in Jeollanam-do is raising concerns about safety accidents involving visually impaired people due to the absence of tactile paving blocks at crosswalk boundary zones.

According to the county on the 4th, there are currently 6,266 registered disabled individuals, of which 544 are visually impaired, accounting for more than 8.6% of the total disabled population.

Since linear and dotted tactile blocks, which are as important as eyes for visually impaired people when going out, are not installed at crosswalk boundary zones and sidewalks, urgent improvements are needed to address the desk-bound administration for the disabled.

There are no yellow tactile paving blocks for the visually impaired installed at the main entrance of Muan County Office.
[Photo by Seo Young-seo]

According to laws and regulations, standards for installing tactile blocks, criteria for crosswalk slopes, and construction procedures are clearly specified.

It is pointed out that the administration for the disabled has revealed a serious level of neglect, which is hard to believe given Mu-an County’s emphasis on welfare to create a perfect walking environment for visually impaired people to move freely.

In particular, the absence of tactile blocks at the crosswalk boundary zone in front of the Mu-an County Office causes inconvenience to visually impaired visitors.

Mr. Park, a resident of Mu-an-eup, said, “In other regions, yellow tactile blocks are installed at the entrance of crosswalks, but I wonder why they are not installed in Mu-an-eup,” and added, “I am curious whether Mu-an County has any administration for the disabled.”

An official from the Disability Welfare Team responded, “The task of installing tactile blocks at crosswalk boundary zones for the visually impaired is handled by the Facilities Team,” and said, “We have no knowledge of any installation plans.”

An official from the Urban Planning Team said, “It is currently being designed,” and added, “Starting next month, some sidewalk block replacement work will begin, and tactile blocks will be installed at crosswalk boundary zones.”

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