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A man looks at his smartphone as he passes a sticker warning against smartphone use while walking

Warning signs are going up to prevent so-called “smartphone zombies” from tripping and falling as they walk the streets with their eyes glued to their screen.

The city of Seoul and National Police Agency (NPA) announced plans on June 16 for a pilot project installing traffic safety signs and street stickers on the dangers of smartphone use in five areas of the city with heavy foot traffic and high accident rates.

at a crosswalk in central Seoul

The five areas selected were in front of Seoul City Hall, Yonsei University, Hongik University, and the Gangnam and Jamsil subway stations. Signs are to be posted over a six-month period beginning on June 16 and continuing to the end of the year.

The traffic safety signs show the image of a person being hit by a car while using a smartphone. They are to be put up at heights of 190 cm and higher on streetlights and traffic lights near pedestrian crossings, with a message underneath reading “Be careful using your smartphone while walking.”

The round stickers, which are 40 cm across, are also being placed on sidewalks - the better to catch the smombies’ downward gaze. They feature an image of a person using a smartphone while walking, followed by a message reading “Walk safely.”

A total of 50 traffic safety signs and 250 stickers are to be put in place for the project.

The city of Seoul is also is carrying out a street campaign at 6 pm on June 24 in the plaza in front of U-Plex in Sinchon to encourage people to refrain from using their smartphones while walking.

By Choi Woo-ri, staff reporter

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