Seoul City Hall crash killing 9 reignites aging driver debate in South Korea
Members of the Korea Crime Scene Investigation inspect the scene of a car accident at the intersection near Seoul City Hall Station, which left 13 people dead, early on July 2, 2024, in Seoul./News1
A traffic accident near Seoul City Hall has left 13 people dead and injured, reigniting the controversy surrounding elderly drivers. The driver, a 68-year-old man, was apprehended at the scene.
The incident occurred at approximately 9:30 p.m. on July 1, when a black sedan struck pedestrians at an intersection near Seoul City Hall. Nine people were killed, and four others were injured. Eyewitnesses reported that the vehicle suddenly reversed in a zig-zag pattern, hitting pedestrians in the crosswalk and sidewalk.
The driver, arrested at the scene, admitted to experiencing sudden unintended acceleration. Authorities are investigating whether the driver was under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
The exact cause of the accident remains unclear, but this incident adds to a series of recent accidents involving elderly drivers, fueling the debate over their qualifications.
In November, an 80-year-old driver in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province, killed three women crossing the street. In March last year, a driver in his 70s caused a fatal accident in Sunchang, North Jeolla Province, killing four and injuring 16.
Other incidents include a nine-car pileup on a road near Yeonsinnae station in Seoul in February and a seven-vehicle accident in Gangnam in March involving drivers in their 80s.
A driver in his 90s hit four elderly people in the parking lot of Pangyo Senior Welfare Center in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, while reversing due to inexperience, killing one.
The Korea Crime Scene Investigation team investigates the scene of a major traffic accident at an intersection near Seoul City Hall in Jung-gu, Seoul, on the morning of July 2, 2024./Newsis
The rise in traffic accidents among elderly drivers has prompted calls for stronger safety measures. According to the Korea Road Traffic Authority, traffic accidents involving drivers aged 65 and older increased by 27.5% over three years, from 31,072 in 2020 to 39,614 last year. The National Assembly’s Legislative Research Service estimates there will be 4.98 million drivers aged 65 and over next year.
The government requires drivers aged 75 and older to renew their licenses every three years, and they must undergo mandatory cognitive tests and traffic safety education. Drivers aged 65 and older are also recommended to undergo traffic safety training.
Local governments have encouraged the voluntary surrender of driver’s licenses to reduce accidents, but the National Police Agency reports that the surrender rate is only 2%.