Inspection finds safety violations continue in school zones

The funeral of eight-year old Cho Eun-gyeol, who was killed by a bus that turned right without stopping, a violation of a law that went into effect in April, on May 10 in Suwon. [YONHAP]

Violations such as speeding and illegal parking continue to plague school zones despite reinforced safety measures, the government has learned.

The Ministry of Interior and Safety and the Ministry of Education conducted a one-month safety inspection of 6,274 school zones in March.

The government especially focused on 29 school zones where either two or more traffic accidents occurred or where a child was killed over the last year.

According to the government report released Thursday, inspectors found nearly 2.5 million cases of legal infractions in school zones, including traffic violations.

The authorities found 47,094 instances of speeding violations or illegal parking in school zones in March alone, collecting 5.3 billion won ($3.8 million) in fines from violators.

They also found 4,786 illegal installations, including vending booths, that posed safety risks around schools.

The government's safety inspections took place in response to public outrage over a recent series of tragic deadly accidents in school zones, including a pair of drunk driving incidents that killed two nine-year-old children in April and December.

Since 2018, the government has been ramping up measures against driving under the influence and other traffic violations near schools.

Penalties for driving while intoxicated were toughened after a young man serving in the military was killed in Busan by a drunk driver in 2018.

According to the so-called Yoon Chang-ho law, a driver who injures somebody while under the influence faces up to 15 years of prison or a fine of 10 million won. But if a person dies, the driver faces up to life in prison.

Previously, a drunk driver who killed somebody faced up to 10 years in prison or a 5 million won fine.

In 2020, the so-called Min-sik Law was enacted, calling for prison sentences of three years to life for drivers who kill a child 12-year-old or younger children while violating traffic regulations in a school zone.

If a child is injured, violators face a year to 15 years in prison or a fine between 5 million won to 30 million won.

The law was created after nine-year-old Kim Min-sik was killed in a school zone by a reckless driver in Asan, South Chungcheong in 2019.

The speed limit in school zones was also reduced from 50 kilometers per hour (31 miles per hour) to 30 kilometers per hour.

As of April 22, all vehicles are required to stop in school zones before moving forward, regardless of the traffic situation. Violators face fines of 40,000 won to 70,000 won, including motorcyclists.

The regulation was implemented after several elementary students were killed by drivers, including truck drivers, who didn't see the children crossing.

Despite these intensified laws to protect school zones, tragedies continue to occur.

The latest occurred on May 10, when a bus turning right hit an eight-year-old boy who was trying to cross the street to meet his father.

The child eventually died.

On the morning of April 28, a 10-year-old girl in Busan was killed after she was struck by a 1.5-ton spool of fishing net that rolled down a sloped road after it was unloaded from a truck parked near a school.

“Creating a safe environment for children commuting to and from school is most important,” said Cho Sang-myeong, head of the public safety policy office at the Ministry of Interior and Safety. “The government will work with regional local governments and private organizations to determine areas exposed to safety hazards near schools and resolve the situation quickly.”

The government inspection has also investigated 15,737 facilities deemed harmful to minors located near schools and found 3,324 violations, including sales of illegal substances and illegal admission or employment of minors.

Such facilities include bars, adult-only PC rooms and other entertainment facilities that are legally forbidden from admitting or hiring minors.

The government said it has taken legal action in 117 cases.

Some 8,000 children-friendly venues, including indoor playgrounds commonly called “kids’ cafes,” were inspected as well.

The government said 1,920 failed to meet safety standards. Three venues were fined while 300 were ordered to make improvements.

BY LEE HO-JEONG [lee.hojeong@joongang.co.kr]