"Risking Their Lives" Elderly Collecting Recyclables Driven to the Streets [Han Reporter Goes]

Classified as Handcarts Under Current Law... Urgent Safety Measures Needed for Elderly Collecting Waste

An elderly person collecting scrap paper is crossing the road with a handcart loaded with junk on a street in Jung-gu, Seoul. Photo by Seunggon Han hsg@asiae.co.kr

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon] "The sound of passing cars and exhaust fumes make me even more tired."

Recently, a man in his 70s, Mr. A, whom I met on a roadway in Jung-gu, Seoul, was crossing the street with a handcart loaded with scrap paper that looked twice his size. He lamented, "I know it's dangerous, but I have no choice if I want to make a living."

According to current law (Article 2, Clause 17 of the Road Traffic Act), handcarts are classified as vehicles. Using the sidewalk instead of the roadway is illegal and results in a fine of 30,000 KRW. Only strollers and electric wheelchairs are exceptionally allowed on sidewalks.

As a result, elderly people who collect scrap paper on the road to make a living not only suffer from various traffic accidents but sometimes lose their lives. The National Assembly has initiated related law amendments, but they are currently pending. Meanwhile, the elderly are forced to dodge cars precariously or are exposed to exhaust fumes, threatening their health. They live day-to-day, but in the process, they risk their lives.

Mr. A said, "Of course, it's dangerous to pull a handcart on the road, but I'm just grateful that some people kindly move out of the way first."

He blocked one lane entirely while moving on a two-lane road. Fortunately, there were no nearby vehicles, so no safety accidents or traffic congestion occurred. However, a car could suddenly appear anytime, threatening Mr. A's safety. He briefly said, "If I get into a car accident, I won't be able to do this work, but for now, I have to keep going."

An elderly person collecting waste paper is loading scrap near a bus stop on a street in Jung-gu, Seoul. Photo by Han Seung-gon hsg@asiae.co.kr

Another elderly man, Mr. B, who makes a living by collecting scrap paper, was picking up scrap near a bus stop. Buses and regular vehicles passed quickly around him, but he was focused on collecting junk.

Given this situation, the number of elderly people losing their lives in traffic accidents has not decreased.

According to the police, the number of elderly people (65 years and older) who died in traffic accidents while collecting scrap paper in Seoul alone reached 21 over three years (2015?2017). Yearly death statistics show that 9 elderly died in 2015, 4 in 2016, and 8 in 2017 while collecting scrap paper.

By region, over three years, 3 elderly died in Dongdaemun-gu, and 2 each in Jongno-gu, Yongsan-gu, Gwangjin-gu, Seongbuk-gu, Geumcheon-gu, and Gwanak-gu due to traffic accidents while collecting scrap paper.

All of them met with accidents while collecting scrap paper, causing deep sorrow in their communities. On January 20, 2018, at around 6:10 p.m., an elderly woman (85 years old at the time) crossing a crosswalk on Bongcheon-ro in Gwanak-gu with a handcart loaded with scrap paper was hit and killed by a nearby passenger car.

Also, on February 4 of the same year, at 5:50 a.m., an elderly woman (82 years old at the time) passing in front of Chungmu Art Hall on Toegye-ro in Jung-gu with scrap paper was struck and killed by a taxi near Sindang Intersection. Then, on July 12 at 9:53 a.m., a man in his 70s pulling a handcart collecting scrap paper was hit and killed by a reversing truck on Sangdo-ro in Dongjak-gu.

On September 15 last year, a man in his 70s was precariously crossing the road with a handcart full of scrap paper. Photo by Han Seung-gon hsg@asiae.co.kr

Citizens have also expressed their sorrow. Mr. C, a man in his 30s who works, said, "I often see elderly people carrying handcarts full of scrap paper while driving, and it makes me uncomfortable," adding, "I hope the law changes soon so they can move safely."

Another office worker in his 40s, Mr. D, said, "If the law is the problem, can't there be an exception or safety measures specifically for elderly scrap collectors?" He lamented, "It's urgent, so I don't understand why this law hasn't been improved quickly."

Currently, a bill allowing handcarts to use sidewalks was proposed in November 2017 but has been pending in the standing committee for three years due to issues such as handcart size standards.

At that time, the National Assembly stated, "Allowing handcarts on sidewalks could cause inconvenience to pedestrians or minor accidents, whereas requiring handcarts to use the roadway, which is crowded with cars, can disrupt traffic flow and increase accident risks for both handcart users and drivers." They explained that the amendment aims to exclude handcarts from the definition of “vehicles” under this law to improve the practicality of current regulations.

Meanwhile, experts have suggested that exceptions or special rules should be established promptly to reduce the traffic accident risks faced by elderly scrap collectors. A social welfare official emphasized, "There is a reason to amend this law or prepare other safety measures to protect socially vulnerable groups," adding, "Social attention is needed."