The Bus That Didn't Stop, The Adults Who Failed to Act: The 'Fake School Zone' Exposed by 13-Year-Old Sihoo's Death in Pohang

Why you need to read this: The sign was yellow and the asphalt was red — but on that night, there was neither a law nor an adult to protect a 13-year-old boy.

TL;DR

• On February 13, 2026, at 9:40 PM, 13-year-old Sihoo was struck and killed by a 25-seat commuter bus in a designated school zone in front of an apartment complex in Heunghae-eup, Buk-gu, Pohang, North Gyeongsang Province
• The bus did not stop — it drove approximately 5 meters further with Sihoo pinned beneath it
• Ten days after the accident, the family had still received no contact from the bus company; the police investigation was awaiting dashcam forensics
• The bereaved family described it as a man-made disaster caused by a 'fake protection zone' and adult negligence
• Ahead of the new school term, police nationwide announced reinforced school zone safety measures — but systemic reform is still being demanded

What Happened That Night

At around 9:40 PM on February 13, 2026, on a road in front of an apartment complex in Heunghae-eup, Buk-gu, Pohang, North Gyeongsang Province. Sihoo, 13, was riding his bicycle home when he was struck from behind by a 25-seat commuter bus driven by a 73-year-old man. The bus did not stop. It continued driving approximately 5 meters with Sihoo underneath.

The location was legally designated as a Children's Protection Zone (school zone). Red asphalt, yellow signs — it appeared to be a complete protection zone. Yet the bereaved family argues this was effectively a 'fake protection zone': a designation in name only, with no substantive safety measures in place.

Why This Issue Is Back in the Spotlight

The accident itself is a tragedy — but the response that followed has fueled public outrage.

• No contact from the offending party: Ten days after the accident, the family had not received a single call from the company operating the commuter bus. When they went to the company in person, they were turned away at the door.
• Stalled police investigation: When the family inquired about the investigation's progress and received no response, they visited the police station directly — only to be told they were "waiting for dashcam forensics results."
• New school term timing: The incident went public in late February, just ahead of the new school term nationwide — a period when social attention to school zone safety is already heightened.

Context: Why Does This Keep Happening After the 'Minsik Act'?

After 9-year-old Kim Min-sik died in a school zone in Asan, South Chungcheong Province in 2019, the Minsik Act (amendment to the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment of Specific Crimes) came into effect in 2020. It introduced severe penalties — life imprisonment or a minimum of three years — for drivers who cause a child's death inside a school zone.

However, the Pohang case raises several key questions:

1. Nighttime traffic and zone effectiveness: The special protection of school zones is primarily designed around school commute hours. Whether a protection zone is effectively enforced at 9:40 PM at night remains a contested issue. Time-based speed limits, being pursued by some local governments, are cited as a potential alternative.
2. The blind spot of commuter buses: School buses for children are subject to legal regulations, but the requirements for general commuter buses passing through school zones are comparatively weak.
3. The 'fake protection zone' problem: The family's core argument is that zones with only signs and colored asphalt — but no substantive physical safety measures (speed bumps, unmanned surveillance cameras, enhanced lighting) — still exist across the country.

What Changes This Case May Bring

• Short-term (1–4 weeks): Legal action by the bereaved family; investigation into the bus company and driver. Police dashcam forensics results expected.
• Medium-term (1–3 months): With the new school term underway, the National Assembly and local governments may raise school zone inspection and legislative improvement discussions. The National Police Agency has already announced a comprehensive school zone safety reinforcement plan (through June 30).
• Long-term: The key question is whether a nationwide survey of 'fake protection zones' and mandatory physical safety infrastructure will be pursued. Many observers note that short-term resolution is unlikely due to budget and administrative constraints.

Checklist: What to Verify in the Wake of This Case

Reference Links

• Bereaved Family of Student Killed in Pohang School Zone Traffic Accident: "We Will Fight to the End to Prevent Another Tragedy" — Yeongnam Ilbo
• "The Time of a 13-Year-Old Who Dreamed of Becoming a Soccer Player Stopped in a 'Fake Protection Zone'" — Gyeongbuk Maeil
• Jeonnam Police, School Zone Traffic Safety Reinforcement and School Bus Inspection Through June — News1

Image Credit

• Children's Protection Zone Sign (Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0)