Half a year has passed since Pusan National University (PNU) requested that Personal Mobility (PM) rental companies mandate users to register their license certification. Still, it has been confirmed that they don't conduct that process.

PNU Head Offices held a meeting with five PM rental companies (PM companies) being used around campus in August 2022 and demanded the restriction of parking areas and the requirement of license certification. This was because four out of five PM companies admitted that shared kickboards could be rented without verifying a license (released by Channel PNU on August 31st, 2022). Half a year has passed, but the situation remains the same.

As a result of "Channel PNU" coverage, all five PM companies did not make the license certification mandatory. Even people who do not certify their license or do not have a license can take ride on the PM. With three companies, users can avoid the license verification process by clicking the “Skip” button, and two companies do not have the process at all. Even though one company made license verification compulsory half a year ago, it is now using the same method as other companies. An official from a PM company said, “We are only proceeding with information on related laws and restricted insurance benefit without any sanctions." Another official replied, "It is true that using it is possible without a license. But it is postponed so the license holder can use it without authentication if it is difficult to verify immediately."

There are statutory limitations in the background in which such a "Trick" is possible. This is because, according to Article 43 of the Road Traffic Act (prohibition of driving without a license), only users are prohibited from driving PMs such as electric wheels, and electric kickboards without a license. Companies are not punished even if unlicensed users use PM. As the number of unlicensed kickboard accidents soared last year, several questions were raised about the law, but the situation still needs to be improved. In fact, on March 16th, a collision between a pedestrian and an unlicensed PM users occurred in front of the Library #2, but the PM company was not punished.

Students react with anxiety to unlicensed PMs driving around the campus.  Student A (Dept. of Language & Information, 21), who often uses PM, said, "I didn't know that some people used PM without driver’s license." Kim Yong-Woo (Dept. of Oceanography, 21) said, "PM is also classified as a vehicle under the Road Traffic Act, so it seems that strong sanctions are needed for law violations."

After the coverage started, the Head Offices  figured out the situation and coordinated with the company. Jung Yoon-Yong (Manager, General Affairs and Audit at the Head Offices) said, " We do not believe that the companies would fully cooperate with us since it is related to their profit system. We will strongly demand system improvement through discussions with local governments.”

Reporter Jo Seung-Wan

Translated by Choi Ye-Won