Related regulations to take effect Feb. 28 next year

Golf clubs, baseball bats and other threatening equipment to be restricted

A children's sandbox playground. This photo is unrelated to the article. [Seongdong-gu]
A children's sandbox playground. This photo is unrelated to the article. [Seongdong-gu]

Starting next February, swinging golf clubs, practicing baseball and other physical activities that could endanger children will be banned at children's playgrounds. Those who ignore a stop order from the local government could face fines of up to 3 million won ($2,270).

The Ministry of Interior and Safety recently announced a proposed amendment to the enforcement decree of the Children's Play Facilities Safety Management Act, according to related ministries Wednesday.

The amendment adds to the list of prohibited conduct any use of sports equipment at children's play facilities that threatens or could cause harm to children.

The current Children's Play Facilities Safety Management Act already bans camping, cooking and commercial activities at such facilities. The enforcement decree also restricts smoking, drinking, entry of motor vehicles and motorcycles, and failure to clean up after pets.

Until now, however, there had been no direct legal basis to restrict threatening golf swing practice at playgrounds, making enforcement difficult.

Once the amendment takes effect, supervisory authorities including local governments will be able to issue stop orders against physical activities that endanger children. Failure to comply could result in a fine of up to 3 million won under Article 31 of the Children's Play Facilities Safety Management Act.

The amendment also clarifies the reporting deadline when a serious accident occurs at a children's play facility.

Facility managers will be required to notify the relevant city, county or district authority within three days of learning of a serious accident. The notification must include the date and circumstances of the accident, the victim's personal information and the measures taken.

A serious accident is defined as a fatal incident, an accident in which three or more people are injured in a single event, or one resulting in fractures, nerve, muscle or tendon damage, or second-degree or more severe burns.

Some kids' pools and kids' cafes without children's play equipment will also be newly brought under safety management requirements. The move follows an amendment to the parent law enacted last February, and the proposed decree sets out detailed standards for those facilities, including the frequency and method of safety assessments. Facility managers will be required to conduct safety assessments at least once a month.

The Ministry of Interior and Safety will accept public comments on the amendment through Dec. 8 before implementing it on Feb. 28 next year.


jshan@heraldcorp.com