‘Stop First’ When Driving in Children Protection Zones!... Seogangseok, Songpa District Mayor’s ‘Kids First’ Traffic Safety Campaign

Promoting Safety Rules for Drivers and Pedestrians During Elementary School Opening Period
Songpa-gu, Songpa Police Station, Seoul Seokchon Elementary School Unite to Spread Children's Traffic Safety Culture

Songpa-gu (Mayor Seo Gang-seok) conducted a "Children First" traffic safety campaign targeting drivers and pedestrians near Seoul Seokchon Elementary School on the 24th, coinciding with the start of the elementary school semester.

This campaign was organized by three institutions: the district office, Songpa Police Station, and Seoul Seokchon Elementary School, to promote a traffic safety culture that considers children. It was held to publicize proper traffic safety rules when driving in school zones.

According to the Road Traffic Act revised in 2022, drivers must stop temporarily at crosswalks without traffic lights regardless of whether pedestrians are present. However, due to low awareness and continuous accidents in school zones, the district collaborated with local police and schools to promote this campaign as a countermeasure.

At around 8:30 a.m., the elementary school’s start time, about 80 people including district and police officials, teachers, and parents gathered in front of the main gate of Seoul Seokchon Elementary School. They wore sashes and held placards with slogans such as "Please Let Children Go First" and "Stop at Crosswalks," distributing leaflets to passersby to raise awareness.

Seo Gang-seok, Mayor of Songpa-gu, who attended the event, said, "I thank the many residents, teachers, and officials who participated in the campaign. Preventing safety accidents is important through thorough safety facility management and awareness improvement. We hope there will be no heartbreaking child safety accidents in Songpa."

In addition to this campaign, the district operates programs such as the "Children’s School Commute Traffic Safety Guidance Project," where traffic safety instructors personally escort lower-grade elementary students to and from school, and the "School Zone Traffic Safety Keeper Project," which manages the safety of children’s school routes. The district is also making efforts to ensure children’s travel safety by expanding designated school zones, installing protective fences, and setting up yellow crosswalks.

Mayor Seo stated, "In Songpa, where there is a large school-age population, I hope a culture that considers children’s traffic safety will spread so that parents can raise their children with peace of mind. We will do our best administratively to guarantee children’s right to commute to school, which is irreplaceable by anything."