How Buan County's Assembly is Enhancing Pedestrian Safety: Key Proposals Revealed

[iNews24 reporter Park Jong-su] The Buan County Council in North Jeolla Province (Chair Park Byung-rae) opened the first plenary session of its 370th extraordinary meeting on the 10th and began a 10-day agenda running through the 19th.

During the session, the council will hear reports from towns and townships and will deliberate and vote on submitted agenda items, including various ordinances.

At the plenary session, Councilmember Kim Hyeong-dae used a five-minute floor speech to propose improving the pedestrian environment along Yonggye-gil near Samnam Middle School, which lacks a sidewalk, focusing on pedestrian safety.

Councilmember Kim said the stretch currently forces vehicles and pedestrians to share the road without a sidewalk, exposing students and residents to traffic hazards. He urged the council to adopt pedestrian-centered road policies, including installing sidewalks, expanding speed-reduction measures, and strengthening enforcement against illegal parking.

In the first plenary session, the council also unanimously adopted a resolution introduced by Councilmember Kim Won-jin that urges legislative amendments to extend the retirement age for volunteer firefighters.

In the resolution, Kim strongly urged the government to amend relevant laws to raise the retirement age for volunteer firefighters from the current 65 to 70 and to establish the necessary institutional framework, citing difficulties recruiting new members in rural and coastal communities.

In his opening remarks, Chair Park Byung-rae said he will visit towns and townships during the session to hear local residents firsthand and closely review major regional issues. He added that the council will remain engaged to ensure the large-scale future industry investment projects underway in the Saemangeum area lead to local economic growth and job creation.