Construction Materials Occupying Roads and Sidewalks Pose Serious Danger... Changwon City Ignores the Issue

"Pedestrian Safety Threat" Concerns Persist Despite Slow Enforcement

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Kang Sharon] "Even if construction is underway, at least measures should be taken to ensure people can walk safely. For nearly a year, large construction materials have completely occupied the sidewalks, forcing people to walk on the road, and during rush hours, regular vehicles, construction vehicles, and pedestrians are all mixed together, creating a lawless zone."

In Changwon-si, Gyeongnam, construction materials have occupied pedestrian paths for several months at a construction site, threatening citizen safety and raising concerns about major accidents. The Changwon City Hall, responsible for enforcement, has been inactive for months.

On the 17th, in front of a construction site in Changwon-si, various construction materials such as rebar, steel pipes, steel plates, and lumber were piled up not only on the sidewalks but also on the bicycle-only lanes. This area is home to a university and a KTX station, with a constant flow of students and citizens. The nearby four-lane road also experiences significant vehicle traffic throughout the day.

According to the road use permit issued by Changwon City to the construction companies, only the entry and exit of construction vehicles are authorized here. In reality, construction materials are illegally piled up while the work proceeds. Under Article 94 of the Road Act, unauthorized occupation of sidewalks can result in imprisonment of up to two years or a fine of up to 20 million KRW. The supervisory authority can impose compensation fees (120% of the occupation fee) for unauthorized road occupation and may revoke the road use permit if the road is occupied for purposes other than those permitted.

The Changwon City officials responsible for construction management and supervision stated at the end of last year, when the same issue arose, that they would "comply with the road use permit conditions and guide and inspect to avoid inconveniencing pedestrian traffic." However, even after 10 months, construction materials remained piled on the sidewalks. During the long-term storage and movement of large materials, pavement blocks and curbs were damaged in several places.

Citizens' complaints at the site have been continuous. A university student, A, said, "I commute to school by bicycle, but construction materials are blatantly occupying both the bicycle-only lanes and sidewalks, forcing me to ride dangerously on the road," adding, "I am scared that accidents might happen on dark nights."

Citizen B said, "The sidewalk has been illegally occupied for months for construction, and despite filing complaints, there has been no enforcement action. Changwon City, which should protect citizens through thorough management and supervision, seems to be suffering from safety negligence," raising their voice.

When Asia Economy began its investigation, a Changwon City official responded, "I will go out immediately. Issues such as pedestrian path damage will be restored to their original state once the construction is completed."