Sangjin Choi, Songpa District Council Member, Holds Meeting on Sidewalk Installation in Samjeon Elementary School Children's Safety Zone

On the afternoon of the 12th, Choi Sang-jin, a member of the Songpa District Council (center), is explaining the current road issues around Samjeon Elementary School at the 'Samjeon Elementary School Children's Protection Zone Sidewalk Installation Meeting' held in the meeting room on the 5th floor of the Songpa District Council in Samjeon-dong, Songpa-gu, Seoul. Photo by Choi Seok-jin

Choi Sang-jin, a member of the Seoul Songpa-gu Council (Samjeon-dong, Jamsil 3-dong), held a 'Samjeon Elementary School Children's Safety Zone Sidewalk Installation Meeting' on the 12th, sharing local road issues around Samjeon Elementary School with residents and exploring future development plans.

The meeting, held from 4 p.m. at the 5th-floor conference room of the Songpa-gu Council in Samjeon-dong, Songpa-gu, Seoul, was attended by Samjeon Elementary School's school operation committee members and local residents, who appealed to Councilor Choi for the necessity of installing sidewalks within the children's safety zone in front of Samjeon Elementary School.

The road between the main gate and the back gate of Samjeon Elementary School in Songpa-gu, Seoul (Baekjegobun-ro 28-gil 1-5) is frequently used by numerous students commuting to and from school. However, sidewalks are installed only on one side, while the opposite side is marked with yellow dashed lines separating the roadway and the sidewalk instead of an actual sidewalk.

Moreover, illegal installations and advertising boards placed by adjacent shops encroach onto the road, forcing pedestrians to walk on the vehicle lanes, raising safety concerns for young students and residents.

On the afternoon of the 12th, Choi Sang-jin, a member of the Songpa District Council (center), is explaining the current road issues around Samjeon Elementary School at the 'Samjeon Elementary School Child Protection Zone Sidewalk Installation Meeting' held in the meeting room on the 5th floor of the Songpa District Council in Samjeon-dong, Songpa-gu, Seoul. Photo by Choi Seok-jin

Residents attending the meeting asked Councilor Choi whether it would be possible to install sidewalks on the road, what procedures would be required for the installation, and when the sidewalks might be constructed if the project proceeds.

Councilor Choi said, "I visited the roads around Samjeon Elementary School this morning and confirmed that, as you mentioned, most pedestrians are forced to walk on the road, which is dangerous."

He added, "After checking with relevant officials, it seems possible to install sidewalks about 1.2m to 1.3m wide without any steps (curbs). However, the most important thing is to obtain consent from the business owners adjacent to the road where the sidewalks will be installed."

He stated, "If the business owners agree, the district office will allocate a budget and request the Seoul Metropolitan Government to start construction early next year, aiming to complete it before the new school term begins."

Meanwhile, the residents attending also requested that the road in front of the main gate of Samjeon Elementary School, which has not yet been designated as a children's safety zone, be designated as such.