Municipalities across Gyeonggi Province are continuing to operate many playgrounds with broken equipment left unrepaired, raising growing concerns about inadequate safety oversight.
Usage of outdoor playgrounds has increased, elevating the risk of falls and entrapment. Yet repairs and access restrictions for damaged equipment are often delayed or not implemented at all.
On May 3, ahead of Children’s Day, we visited Norumal Children’s Park near an apartment complex in Jangan District, Suwon. Roughly half of the wooden platform leading to a slide had broken away, leaving gaps wide enough for a child’s foot to slip through and potentially cause a fall.
Despite the serious damage, no temporary barriers or warning measures were in place. A child playing there said, “I come here often, but I’m scared I might fall in.” A parent, Kang, 31, said, “We bring our kids from the apartment to play outside, but I always warn them not to use the slide because I’m worried an accident could happen.”
Gyeonggi Province recorded the highest number of serious playground accidents in the country.
According to the Ministry of the Interior and Safety’s “2025 Analysis of Serious Accidents at Children’s Play Facilities,” there were 177 serious playground accidents nationwide last year, resulting in 178 injuries. Gyeonggi accounted for 64 of those incidents—the most of any region.
By equipment type, modular play structures accounted for the largest share of serious accidents, with 70 cases (40% of the total). Slides accounted for 16 cases, while swings and climbing equipment each caused 14. By age group, school-aged children (7–13) were the most affected, with 117 injuries.
The Korea Consumer Agency inspected 32 playgrounds in older apartment complexes (approved more than 25 years ago) in Seoul and Gyeonggi in 2024. It found 29 sites (90.6%) operating with damaged equipment or surfacing. Twenty-one sites (65.6%) showed corroded metal frames or broken steps and seats, and 20 sites (62.5%) had severely peeling paint on handles and railings.
The safety management manual for children’s play facilities requires local governments and other managers to conduct safety inspections at least once a month. If an inspection identifies equipment that could harm children, managers must prohibit its use and apply for a safety diagnosis within one month.
/Kim Hye-jin, reporter trust@incheonilbo.com
