Councilor Kim Dong-wook Proposes... "We Will Make Buses Safer"
Restricting Acts That Cause Sexual Shame and Disgust
No Penalties or Fines in the Ordinance Amendment
As cases of causing sexual embarrassment or watching obscene materials on Seoul buses have increased, causing concern, an ordinance restricting such behavior has passed the Seoul Metropolitan Council.
On the 11th, the Seoul Metropolitan Council announced that the amendment to the ordinance on bus operation standards, which was jointly proposed by Kim Dong-wook, a member of the People Power Party, was passed at the 322nd extraordinary session plenary meeting. The ordinance focuses on restricting acts that cause sexual embarrassment or disgust, such as watching obscene materials on city buses and village buses in Seoul. Additionally, the ordinance stipulates that "citizens must actively cooperate when prohibited from engaging in other behaviors that harm the public or passengers for the safety of city buses," thereby clarifying citizens' obligation to cooperate.
The existing Passenger Transport Service Act, unlike the Railroad Safety Act, did not prohibit acts causing sexual embarrassment to drivers or passengers. As a result, in December last year, a male passenger openly watched obscene materials while seated on a city bus in Suncheon, Jeollanam-do, causing a middle school student sitting alone in the back seat to feel sexual embarrassment. Due to the lack of an ordinance restricting such behavior, many citizens experienced discomfort.
In response, Assemblyman Kim stated that he pushed for the amendment of the ordinance to restrict such acts so that citizens can use buses safely and comfortably. Kim said, "Recently, problems have arisen where watching obscene materials or engaging in obscene behavior toward some passengers on buses causes inconvenience and anxiety for bus users. Although there were no clear punitive regulations until now, making it difficult to create a safe bus environment for citizens, this ordinance amendment will enable the creation of an environment where citizens can use buses safely."
However, while the Railroad Safety Act and Seoul Transportation Corporation’s passenger transport terms include provisions for fines against acts causing sexual embarrassment, discomfort, or danger on trains, the Passenger Transport Service Act and village bus transport business terms related to buses lack such regulations. Therefore, further discussion is needed alongside this amended ordinance.
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