Taxi driver is 35-year volunteer in traffic control

Yang Pan-young controls traffic at the crossroads in front of Jeongeupseo Elementary School in Jeongeup, North Jeolla Province. He has been doing this as a volunteer every morning for the past 35 years. / Yonhap

By Kim Rahn

Every morning for the past 35 years, students at Jeongeupseo Elementary School in Jeongeup, North Jeolla Province, have met a person on their way to school ― not a teacher but a taxi driver who works as a traffic control volunteer at the crossroads near the school.

Yang Pan-young, 76, started his voluntary work in 1982 when he was named an “exemplary driver” by police, the title given to taxi and bus drivers who have not had an accident for 10 years.

“Living through a poor childhood, I had wanted to serve society when I grew up,” he said. “I didn’t have much money to help others, so I came up with the idea of helping with traffic control work that I could do without having to pay any money.”

Meeting every morning of their years as schoolchildren, Yang and the students get to know each other well. If Yang skips work for a day due to illness, such as a bad cold, some children ask him the next day why he did not show up and whether he is OK.

“When I started doing this work, I pledged not to skip it,” he said. “I rarely skip my duty at the crossroads unless I’m terribly sick.”

The volunteer work means Yang has to give up the morning hours when taxi demand is high. “My wife first did not like me doing the volunteer work in the morning,” he said. “But I think volunteering is more meaningful than merely earning money, so I have always been there for traffic control duty from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m.”

As he has been there for 35 years, Yang was a guard at the crossroads for some former students who have become adults and are now sending their children to the school.

“One day a parent gave me a letter that read: ‘I met you for the first time in 1983 when I was a first-grader. I met you again today when I was taking my child to school. I was surprised and glad to see you again. I’m writing this letter to let you know that many people like me appreciate your hard work.’”

Since Yang began the volunteer work, not a single student has suffered a traffic accident on their way to school.

Recognizing his efforts, the provincial police agency drafted a letter of appreciation to him earlier this month.

“I’ll keep doing the volunteer work as long as my health allows,” Yang said.