In Korea, a school zone refers to a designated children protection zone to prevent children from traffic accidents, which usually locates 300 meters near kindergartens and elementary schools. Drivers must not go over the speed limit 30km/h and are also not allowed to park and stop unless a child gets in or out of a vehicle. 

   Almost three years have passed since tougher laws on school-zone safety were enacted as a kid named “Kim Min-sik” died due to an accident that occurred at a school zone. There are constant school zone accidents, nonetheless, up to recently. Bae Seung-ah was hit by a car as it crashed into the sidewalk in a school zone near Tanbang Middle School in Daejeon, on April 8. Another incident occurred on May 10, as a city bus struck Cho Eun-gyeol at a crosswalk in front of his school in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province. Reportedly, the bus drove through to make an illegal right turn without seeing the boy even though the boy had the right of way as the crosswalk signal was green. Hundreds of school zone accidents still happen every year, and the proportion of children who die in traffic accidents in South Korea is also the highest among the member countries of OECD.

   There are several factors to be pointed out which result in continuous accidents. According to Min-sik’s Law, dubbed after an elementary school student killed in a car accident in front of his school in Asan, installing safety facilities such as traffic lights and speed cameras is mandatory, which is hardly being carried out. Furthermore, only a single case among 93 cases was sentenced to prison during the passing year. The heaviest penalty was only a monetary penalty.

   Improving the environment is the most urgent thing to do. Not only proper installation of basic safety facilities like guardrails and median strips but also a reinforcement of CCTV surveillance must be done. There are also many opinions about heavy punishments for drivers who cause car accidents. What is as important as severe punishments is a refinement of traffic culture and awareness. It would take a whole group’s effort to prevent further accidents.