Some Children Caught Playing 'Minsik Law Game'
Drivers Heavily Punished for Accidents in School Zones
Game Abusing 'Minsik Law' to Harass Drivers
"Only Increasing Driver Harm" vs "Children Must Be Protected"
On the 21st, a black box video showing a child hiding behind a parked car running towards an approaching vehicle was uploaded on the automotive community BobaeDream's Instagram account. / Photo by Instagram capture
[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] Controversy is growing as cases of some children playing so-called 'Minsik Law play' have been reported one after another. This game involves children running out in front of vehicles driving in school zones to scare drivers, abusing the current Minsik Law, which imposes heavier penalties on drivers who cause traffic accidents in school zones.
Citizens are expressing outrage. There are criticisms that the Minsik Law, which is supposed to protect children, is instead causing harm to drivers. On the other hand, there are strong opposing views that the Minsik Law is essential to suppress traffic accidents within school zones.
Recently, a black box video capturing children playing 'Minsik Law play' was posted on the official social media account of the car-specialized online community 'Bobaedream'.
In the video, a child hiding in front of an illegally parked SUV near a school zone suddenly runs out as another vehicle approaches.
Regarding this, the post author stated, "How heartbreaking it must be for Minsik's parents to see this video," and added, "No matter how much it is the Minsik Law, accidents with strong intentionality should not allow insurance settlements, so children should be discouraged from thinking they can earn pocket money by colliding with cars."
The Minsik Law play involves deliberately running in front of vehicles driving within school zones or chasing from behind to scare drivers. After the 'Minsik Law,' which imposes heavier penalties on drivers involved in traffic accidents in school zones, was passed last year, some children reportedly have been abusing it by playing Minsik Law play.
On the 11th, at a school zone crosswalk in Jung-gu, Ulsan, children suddenly ran out as a vehicle was about to start moving. / Photo by YouTube video capture
On the 11th, a similar case was reported. A black box video released on the traffic accident specialist lawyer's YouTube channel 'Han Moonchul TV' shows a driver stopping in front of a crosswalk in a school zone in Jung-gu, Ulsan, waiting for the green light. When the light turns green and the driver is about to start, the driver notices children waiting in a running stance on the right side without crossing the crosswalk.
The driver waits for a moment, and when the children do not move, slowly starts the vehicle. At this moment, the children suddenly run onto the road, and when the driver immediately honks, they return to the sidewalk.
Lawyer Han Moonchul, who watched the video, said, "This is the most evolved form of Minsik Law play I've seen so far," emphasizing, "In the past, children only pretended to chase behind the car or run in front, but now they deliberately wait and then run out in groups. Parents need to provide special guidance."
Public opinion is divided. While there are criticisms that the Minsik Law threatens drivers, there are also claims that the current law must be maintained to protect child pedestrians.
A 20-year-old office worker A from Gyeonggi-do, who commutes by car, said, "I understand the purpose of the law to protect children going to school or kindergarten, but there are many problems with the current Minsik Law," expressing concern, "From a driver's perspective, should we just watch children playing Minsik Law play as a prank? I'm afraid this will only increase traffic accidents in school zones and cause harm to innocent drivers."
Another office worker B (29) said, "What if bad parents instruct children to run into cars to claim insurance money?" and emphasized, "The Minsik Law needs to be repealed or revised."
Two passenger cars are driving slowly in a school zone in front of an elementary school in Gyeonggi-do last year. / Photo by Juhyung Lim skepped@
On the other hand, C (32) said, "Although there was much controversy when the Minsik Law was passed, there is data showing that traffic accidents in school zones have significantly decreased since its implementation," arguing, "The law was created to protect children, the most vulnerable and those who need protection in our society, so adults should bear the burden."
Since the implementation of the Minsik Law, the installation of unmanned enforcement cameras, speed bumps, and traffic lights in school zones nationwide has been made mandatory. Additionally, the 'Partial Amendment to the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes' (Special Act) was passed, which imposes imprisonment of three years or more or life imprisonment on drivers who cause the death of children under 13 by vehicle collision in school zones.
According to data from the Road Traffic Authority, traffic accidents in school zones decreased by 15.7% last year compared to the previous year (2019), and the number of deaths dropped sharply by 50% after the Minsik Law was implemented.
Regarding this, Kang Hoon-sik, a member of the Democratic Party who was the main proposer of the Minsik Law last year, emphasized that "the law was passed not to punish drivers but to protect children."
In an interview with KBS's 'Oh Taehoon's Current Affairs Headquarters' on the 22nd, Rep. Kang said, "There are opinions fearing heavier penalties for drivers, but if you carefully observe the surroundings near school zones, the probability of imprisonment is low," adding, "If the fundamental purpose of the law was to punish drivers, there would have been many imprisonment cases, but that is not the case. I want to emphasize that the purpose is to protect children."
Experts suggest analyzing traffic accident trends over several years since the implementation of the Minsik Law to discuss future development directions.
Attorney Jo Sujin of the law firm 'WeMen' said in a radio interview last year, "We need to compile statistics on how effective the Minsik Law has actually been and how much the traffic accident rate has decreased," explaining, "In other words, this will be possible only after a few years have passed since the law's implementation."
She added, "Once social consensus is reached after observing future situations, discussions on revising the Minsik Law can begin."
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