"Let's Play Minsik Law Today" Children Lying Down on the Road at Night

'Min-sik Law Play' Targeting Vehicles Entering School Zones

Children are lying down in the middle of a road where cars pass by. This game, played by targeting vehicles entering a school zone, is called the 'Minsik Law Game.'

Recently, multiple online communities have attracted attention with photos showing children lying down on a crosswalk near an elementary school.

Since the introduction of the so-called 'Minsik Law,' which imposes heavier penalties for traffic accidents causing death or injury due to careless driving within a Children's Protection Zone (School Zone), these photos capture children chasing cars passing through the school zone or occupying the road as part of their play.

Children Enjoying 'Minsik's Law Play'
Photo by Online Community

The students in the photos are lying on the road looking at their mobile phones. In other photos, children are lying flat on the road.

Those who have seen the photos express concerns such as "What if they encounter a drunk driver?" "Novice drivers with limited visibility might not see them," and "Lying on the road at night is really dangerous."

Han Moon-chul, a traffic accident specialist lawyer, emphasized on last month's JTBC program 'Han Moon-chul's Black Box Review' that "If a child is injured in a Children's Protection Zone, the fine is over 5 million won," and stressed that "Parents must teach their children that (playing the Minsik Law game) is absolutely not allowed."

Photo by Online Community

The Minsik Law was enacted following the death of Kim Minsik, who was hit by a speeding vehicle in a school zone in Asan, Chungnam, on September 11, 2019. Under this law, if a driver causes the death of a child under 12 years old due to unsafe driving in a school zone, they face life imprisonment or at least three years in prison. For injuries, the penalty ranges from one to fifteen years in prison or a fine between 5 million and 30 million won. The law has been in full effect since March 25, 2020.

The Minsik Law is a subject of intense debate. Many argue that the penalties are excessively harsh to the point of undermining the law's principles. Even if the child victim suffers only minor injuries or the driver hits the child by simple mistake, the driver can face severe punishments such as imprisonment.

Although a constitutional complaint was filed, the Constitutional Court ruled in February that the 'Minsik Law' does not violate the constitution. The court noted, "Compared to OECD member countries, South Korea has a very high rate of pedestrian deaths and pedestrian deaths per 100,000 people, and still has a backward vehicle-centric culture that prioritizes vehicles over pedestrians."

Furthermore, the court stated, "The public interest gained by imposing heavier penalties on drivers who violate their duty of care and cause injury or death to children, who require special protection, outweighs the disadvantages to drivers, thereby enabling children to live safe and healthy lives free from traffic accident risks."