Seoul improves road safety after fatal accident near City Hall

The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced that it would take measures to improve road safety, such as installing more robust guardrails on sidewalks and traffic signs, in response to the recent traffic accident that killed nine people on Monday.

A city official quoted in local media reports on Wednesday said the guardrails would be reinforced to better protect pedestrians.

The official explained that the guardrails on the road where the accident occurred were originally installed to separate the road from the sidewalk and prevent pedestrians from crossing. The speed limit on the road is 30 kilometers per hour and the guardrails were installed in accordance with the guidelines of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.

The accident occurred when the 68-year-old driver of a black Genesis drove about 200 meters in the wrong direction before crashing into guardrails and pedestrians near the City Hall subway station in Jung District, central Seoul, at around 9:30 p.m. on Monday.

The impact destroyed the steel railings on the construction site.

The city is currently studying how sturdy the guardrails need to be to prevent such accidents. According to the law, guardrails in Korea are divided into two main types: those for cars and those for pedestrians. Guardrails for cars are much more durable and are installed on roads such as highways.

On Thursday, the Seoul Metropolitan Government announced plans to improve and add additional traffic signs to improve driver recognition during the day and night.

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon also instructed officials to review one-way streets in the capital and, in cooperation with the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, make immediate improvements if necessary.

Visiting the altar of a city government official who died in the accident on Tuesday, Oh said the incident could spark a discussion on extending driver’s licenses for older drivers.

According to the Korean Road Traffic Agency, the number of accidents involving older drivers has risen steadily over the past three years, peaking at 39,614 last year. Such accidents accounted for 20 percent of all traffic accidents, compared to 17.6 percent the previous year.

BY CHO JUNG-WOO ([email protected])