Seoul promulgates 34 ordinances, including one guaranteeing mobility rights for transportation-vulnerable people; rules also tighten oversight of abandoned e-scooters and expand no-smoking zones at Han River parks

Commuters board a low-floor bus at Seoul Station Bus Transfer Center in Jung-gu on Sept. 16. [Herald DB]
Commuters board a low-floor bus at Seoul Station Bus Transfer Center in Jung-gu on Sept. 16. [Herald DB]

The Seoul Metropolitan Government has passed an ordinance requiring all city buses to be replaced with low-floor models, while also establishing a legal basis for tighter management of abandoned electric scooters.

The city said Thursday it had reviewed and approved the measures at ordinance and regulation deliberation committee meetings held July 7 and Monday. A total of 34 ordinances — four newly enacted and 30 amended — took effect Thursday. Seven regulations, comprising two new and five amended, will take effect Oct. 15.

Among the ordinances, the city's existing bylaw on improving transportation convenience for mobility-vulnerable people will be renamed to reflect a stronger rights-based framing, becoming the "Seoul Metropolitan Government Ordinance on Guaranteeing Mobility Rights for Transportation-Vulnerable People."

The ordinance explicitly requires the city to operate its entire bus fleet as low-floor buses — vehicles with lowered floors and step-free entrances designed to make boarding easier for people with disabilities, the elderly and others with mobility challenges. Low-floor buses accounted for 79.4 percent of Seoul's city bus fleet as of last year. The city aims to complete the full transition by 2030. The ordinance also creates a new obligation for the city to take active measures — including cooperation with relevant agencies — to remedy rights violations and correct discriminatory treatment of transportation-vulnerable people.

The city will also be required to run education campaigns and public service announcements to raise awareness of mobility rights, ensuring that transportation-vulnerable people can use public transit and passenger facilities without discrimination. Wheelchair users will be given priority when assigning special transportation services, and people who directly use disability-designated call taxis must be included in the membership of the operating council for such services.

An amendment to the ordinance on promoting safe use of personal mobility devices was also passed and promulgated. Safety plans for personal mobility devices must now include provisions on preventing and managing abandoned vehicles. The amendment establishes a legal basis for sharing information between the mayor and district mayors on abandoned-device reports, removal and collection status, and other management data. Compliance requirements for rental operators of abandoned devices have been strengthened. The city may now formally request rental operators to promptly remove or address illegally abandoned devices, and it may evaluate operators' management performance, publish the results, and recommend improvements to those that fall short.

A new ordinance on fire prevention and response in large-scale underground spaces was also enacted and promulgated. It designates the mayor as responsible for devising and implementing effective fire prevention measures and rapid response plans for large below-ground facilities.

An amendment to the Seoul Metropolitan Assembly civil servant conduct ordinance adds childcare for children or grandchildren — covering the period after graduating from a nursery or similar facility and before entering the next level of schooling — as a qualifying reason for family care leave.

A separate ordinance was also passed designating veterans in need of lifestyle support as priority candidates for positions managing and collecting recyclable materials.

An amendment to the city's ordinance on creating smoke-free environments and preventing secondhand smoke exposure designates areas within 10 meters of the boundary of swimming pools and water play facilities at Han River parks as no-smoking zones.


cook@heraldcorp.com