[Report] "Are You Still Illegally Parking?" One Year of Minsik Law... School Zones Remain 'Safety Blind Spots'

One Year Since Min-sik Law Enforcement, School Zones Still Suffering from Illegal Parking
Visiting Elementary School Zones... Children 'Narrowly' Leaving Amid Vehicles
Experts Say "Children's Traffic Accidents Are Fatal, Always Think of Safe Driving"

A school zone in front of an elementary school in Jung-gu, Seoul. Due to illegal parking of vehicles, children could be pushed toward the roadway. Photo by Jumi Lee zoom_0114@asiae.co.kr

[Asia Economy Reporters Seunggon Han and Jumi Lee] "There are still illegal parkings happening," "It shows a lack of awareness; children must not get hurt..."

The so-called `Min-sik Act`, which strengthens penalties for traffic accidents in school zones (children protection zones), is approaching its one-year anniversary on the 25th. Given the various conflicts and controversies over excessive punishment related to the Min-sik Act, awareness regarding accidents in school zones has increased compared to the past.

However, in front of an elementary school in Seoul, the scene still showed a safety blind spot in the school zone, with children avoiding illegal parking while leaving school. As a result, criticism is emerging that despite conflicts over the Min-sik Act itself, public awareness of safe driving in school zones remains low.

Recently, reporters visited an elementary school in Jung-gu, Seoul, which was bustling with children leaving school. Under teachers' guidance, students held hands with their parents or friends in small groups and headed home. However, illegal parking near crosswalks and the main gate created a precarious route home.

Signs stating "No Parking or Stopping in Children Protection Zone" were posted everywhere, but vehicles were parked openly. Children sometimes moved toward the roadway with moving cars to avoid parked vehicles. Adults nearby immediately stopped dangerous situations, but if only children were present, accidents could have occurred in this precarious situation.

Illegal parking in school zones poses a risk of causing traffic accidents. Especially since children are short, they can easily be hidden in the blind spots of drivers' vision by illegally parked vehicles. Also, children have relatively less awareness of safety than adults and may not properly observe their surroundings. Since they might suddenly dart onto the road without looking carefully, drivers must maximize their field of vision to minimize accident risks.

A car is parked in an alley near an elementary school in Seoul. The sign indicating a children's protection zone on the road is noticeable. A car is parked at the corner of the alley, which seems to pose a risk of obstructing the driver's view. Photo by Jumi Lee zoom_0114@asiae.co.kr

Many children have experienced their view being blocked by vehicles parked near schools. According to the Green Umbrella Children's Foundation, one out of seven elementary students in Jin-gu, Busan, failed to notice an oncoming car due to cars parked near the school.

Parents expressed frustration, saying they have often been heartbroken by illegally parked cars. Kim, a parent in their 30s raising a 9-year-old elementary student, said, "My child almost had an accident because of a car parked near the crosswalk," adding, "I was so shocked that I couldn't sleep properly for several days." He raised his voice, saying, "The driver got angry, asking why I left the child alone, which was absurd. It wasn't even a brief stop due to circumstances, so I was even more upset."

Although enforcement has been strengthened to eradicate illegal parking, criticisms continue that it is insufficient. A security guard in his 50s at an elementary school in Jung-gu explained, "Even with monitoring, there are always cars parking or stopping," adding, "Drivers often say they are in a hurry and stop briefly, but they end up parking."

Some argue that measures are needed regarding parents stopping their cars near schools to help children get to and from school. Due to parents briefly stopping to drop off children or parking until school ends, the area in front of schools effectively becomes a parking lot, and the safe distance between children and vehicles inevitably disappears.

Near the main gate of an elementary school in Seoul. It looks crowded with vehicles of parents who came to pick up their children at dismissal time. Parents parked their cars around the main gate and waited for the children to come out. Photo by Jumi Lee zoom_0114@asiae.co.kr

Under current law, even briefly stopping a car in a school zone is prohibited. If a vehicle is confirmed to have stopped for more than one minute in the same place, a fine must be paid. However, many parents park near schools, claiming they are dropping off or picking up their children.

In fact, many parents express anxiety about other parents parking near schools in online communities. One netizen, presumed to be a parent, said, "During children's dismissal time, cars line up on both sides of the road regardless of vehicle type," adding, "A child who saw their mother ran out recklessly and almost had an accident. Please pay parking fees and wait for your child outside the school zone."

Another netizen, who has a second-grade elementary student, lamented, "It's dangerous to cross the road at the crosswalk because illegal parking blocks the view," adding, "Recently, while watching to cross at a school crosswalk, a car stopped right on the crosswalk to drop off their child. We should not only care for our own children but also cherish other precious children."

A car is parked right next to a crosswalk near an elementary school in Seoul. Since it is near the crosswalk, there appeared to be a risk of children being hidden. Photo by Jumi Lee zoom_0114@asiae.co.kr

Despite these ongoing illegal parking issues in school zones, various traffic accidents involving children continue to occur.

According to the `Children Protection Zone Traffic Safety Enhancement Measures` jointly promoted by government ministries, there were 478 traffic accidents involving children and 3 fatalities in school zones last year. Although these numbers decreased compared to 2019 (567 accidents, 6 fatalities), considering the reduced school attendance days due to COVID-19 last year, it cannot be concluded that the numbers have decreased.

Additionally, Seoul city data shows that about 30% of children's accidents in school zones between 2017 and 2019 were influenced by vehicles parked along the roadside. This underscores the need to strengthen drivers' awareness of illegal parking in school zones that threaten children's safety.

Meanwhile, starting May 11, with the enforcement of the revised Road Traffic Act Enforcement Decree, fines for illegal parking in all school zones nationwide will increase from the current 80,000 KRW to 120,000 KRW for passenger cars and from 90,000 KRW to 130,000 KRW for vans. The scope of illegal parking enforcement in school zones will also be expanded.

Experts urge continuous safe driving in school zones. A police official emphasized, "Traffic accidents involving children are more fatal compared to adults," adding, "Driving slowly in front of schools and defensive driving are not optional but essential. Before legal penalties like fines, drivers must think of the children as their own family and ensure safe driving."