Anxious Drivers and Children on the 'Changwon Oncheon Elementary' School Route

Schools and Parents Worry About the Occurrence of a 'Second Min-sik Incident'

The school zone walkway near the main gate of Onchon Elementary School, located in Buk-myeon, Uichang-gu, Changwon-si, Gyeongnam. With a width of 4 to 5 meters and a length of 80 meters, it is narrow, causing concerns that accidents could occur at any time. Photo by Choi Hyun-joo Hwang hhj2524@

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Hwang Choi Hyun-joo] There are growing demands to install facilities for the safe walking and dismissal of students around the Oncheon Elementary School school zone located in Buk-myeon, Uichang-gu, Changwon-si, Gyeongnam.

The Oncheon Elementary School commuting route is so narrow that pedestrians and vehicles cannot distinguish between the sidewalk and the road, and some parts of the shoulder have subsidence, putting both drivers and pedestrians in dangerous situations. The road in the residential area facing the school gate is only about 4 to 5 meters wide, and the length of the road designated as a school zone is about 80 meters.

A resident A, whose child attends Oncheon Elementary School, said, "Especially when it rains, scenes where cars and children get tangled together sometimes occur, and parts of the shoulder are eroded or subsided, raising serious concerns about the safety of children and drivers."

The school zone walkway near the main gate of Onchon Elementary School located in Buk-myeon, Uichang-gu, Changwon-si, Gyeongnam.

However, the school has not been able to come up with a proper solution. Although it is known that installing safety fences and expanding the road are necessary, there are disputes with local residents and issues of infringement on private property rights. Park Jeong-min, principal of Oncheon Elementary School, said, "Since the residential area existed before the school was established, there is practically no way to expand the road at present."

The city is also aware of the Oncheon Elementary School commuting route issue. The city has been discussing the expansion and securing of the commuting route by listening to the opinions of local residents. However, considering issues such as infringement on private property rights, if the project is confirmed, it is expected that consent will be sought through residents' public hearings or explanatory meetings.

A Changwon city official said, "It is true that the area around the school cannot distinguish between sidewalks and roads," and added, "Although the commuting route improvement project has not been specifically decided, we recognize that it is a necessary project."