Yongin Mayor Lee Sang-il inspects the commute route and surrounding area at Hyoja Elementary School in Suji-gu's Seongbok-dong on Monday. [Yongin City]
Yongin Mayor Lee Sang-il inspects the commute route and surrounding area at Hyoja Elementary School in Suji-gu's Seongbok-dong on Monday. [Yongin City]

Yongin Mayor Lee Sang-il said he will continue visiting schools to listen to residents and address their concerns, carrying the practice from his previous term into the current one.

Lee visited Hyoja Elementary School in Seongbok-dong, Suji-gu, on Monday morning to inspect the student commute route and assess safety conditions for children on their way to school.

He walked the area around the school's crosswalks alongside about 20 people, including members of the Seobu Green Mothers' Association and Hyoja Elementary School staff.

The road in front of the school is narrow and lacks a designated drop-off and pick-up zone, causing chronic congestion from parked and idling vehicles during arrival and dismissal times.

A steep hill near the school entrance raises safety concerns, as the path becomes slippery during winter snowfall and the summer rainy season, putting students at risk of accidents.

Parents described these conditions to Lee and asked the city to establish a drop-off and pick-up zone, replace the paving blocks on the hillside path and install a canopy.

After surveying the site with parents, Lee directed the Suji District Office and other relevant departments to promptly repair damaged facilities such as safety fences. He said the city would actively review feasible options for creating a drop-off and pick-up zone.

Lee also said the city would ensure the ongoing gymnasium renovation at Hyoja Elementary School — part of an educational environment improvement project — is completed without delay.

The city and the provincial education office are jointly funding the gymnasium renovation at a total cost of about 239 million won ($159,000) to support safe physical education activities for students.

"For requests from parents that can be acted on quickly, we will move fast, and for matters requiring coordination with the education office, police and other agencies, we will communicate with those bodies to find workable solutions," Lee said. "As I did in my previous term, I will keep visiting schools, listening to a wide range of voices and working to ease inconveniences."


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