The government gathered around 200 citizens for a deliberative debate to find safe ways to use escalators, but the conclusion stopped at reinforcing the previously recommended "three major safety rules."

On August 29, a citizen-participatory policy debate was held under the theme of "improving the safety culture of escalator use."

Following expert presentations and panel discussions, the citizen participation group was divided into 25 breakout groups to discuss escalator usage methods and safety measures.

In surveys conducted before and after the discussion, responses favoring standing in two lines increased by 14.5 percentage points from 31.4% to 45.9%.

On the other hand, responses favoring standing in one line—leaving one side open for people in a rush—decreased by 16.5 percentage points from 29.9% to 13.4%.

Responses stating that it should be flexibly applied depending on the situation rose by 0.6 percentage points from 38.1% to 38.7%, showing little difference.

Although preference for standing in two lines increased through the discussion, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety decided not to uniformly recommend a specific line-standing method.

The ministry plans to revise "establishing a two-line standing culture" included in the 1st Basic Plan for Elevator Safety Management to "establishing an autonomous safety culture through the habitual practice of the three major safety rules and improving the usage environment," and will no longer pursue uniform two-line standing campaigns and regulations.

Instead, it plans to strengthen education and promotion regarding the existing three major safety rules: holding the handrail, not walking or running, and staying behind the safety line.

The Ministry of the Interior and Safety explained that while preference for standing in two lines increased, there were also many opinions that it should be flexibly applied depending on the situation, and during the discussion process, more opinions were presented regarding safe usage behaviors rather than line-standing methods.

According to data submitted by the ministry to the office of Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker Yang Bu-nam, the cost incurred for this debate addressing escalator issues was approximately 90 million won.

Consequently, some point out that it is necessary to examine whether policy outcomes commensurate with the invested costs were produced and to reexamine the selection of topics and operational methods for future debates.

(Reported by Jung Da-eun, Video Edited by Lee Yu-jin, Designed by Lee Jeong-ju, Produced by SBS Digital News)