[2020 National Audit] 18% of Designated Child Protection Zones Still Unassigned

Assemblyman Park Jae-ho Reports Low Detailed Input in Information Management System for Child Protection Zones

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] Although child traffic accidents in school zones have significantly increased, a considerable number of designated target areas have not yet been officially designated as school zones, necessitating prompt measures.

According to data submitted to Park Jae-ho, a member of the National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee from the Democratic Party of Korea, by the National Police Agency and the Korea Road Traffic Authority on the 26th, the total number of child traffic accidents in school zones over three years since 2017 was 1,481. As a result, 1,549 children were injured, and 17 children lost their lives.

In the case of child traffic accidents, there were 479 cases in 2017, followed by 435 cases in 2018, a decrease of 44 cases. However, in 2019, the number rose again to 567 cases, an increase of 132 cases compared to the previous year.

However, as of December 2019, when the statistics were finalized, among 20,683 designated target facilities nationwide for school zones, 18.2% (3,771 facilities) were found to be undesignated, including 105 elementary schools, 854 kindergartens, and 2,149 daycare centers. In particular, while the undesignation rate near elementary schools was 1.7%, the rate near daycare centers was 40.3%, and near academies, it was 95.3%.

In Seoul, 18.7% (1,760 facilities) of target facilities were undesignated, and among local governments, Daegu and Jeju had about 60% undesignation rates, showing significant differences in designation rates by local government.

Assemblyman Park Jae-ho pointed out, "If the designation of school zones is insufficient, the measures promoted by the National Police Agency to lower speed limits on roads within school zones and increase fines for parking and stopping vehicles will have loopholes, which could ultimately lead to child traffic accidents within school zones."

Meanwhile, the government's 'School Zone Information Management System,' established and operated to build an efficient management system for school zones, showed that the information input rate by local governments was only 8.5%. In particular, Gwangju, Sejong, Jeonbuk, and Jeju have not entered detailed information about school zones, resulting in a lack of integrated management.

Assemblyman Park said, "Even if good policies are made, if local governments do not follow through, the public cannot feel the effects of the policies," and requested, "The Ministry of the Interior and Safety should use all possible means to ensure that local governments complete 100% of school zone designations and detailed information input within this year."