Assessing Legal Issues for Pedestrian Priority Street in Korea

Abstract

As the Pedestrian Priority Street(PPS) is listed in the National Land Planning and Utilization Act, the Seoul Metropolitan Government has implemented 10 pilot projects for the recent two years in order to improve pedestrian environment of small alleys without sidewalk in Seoul. Based on the concept of shared space, the PPS has a critical weak point in that the pedestrian's right of way is not secured by law especially in case of casual accident, which could be a serious barrier for adaptation of the PPS. This study is to suppose a series of legal amendments for securing pedestrian's right of way in PPS. The final results are such as follow; first, the superior right of way in full width of PPS should be endowed with pedestrians. Secondly, the right of random street crossing in PPS should be allowed with pedestrian. Thirdly, the speed limit of vehicles should be lowered in PPS. Finally, the PPS should be listed and stated in more practical and powerful law.