A fallen goalpost and a ball remain at the futsal court in Solddeul Neighborhood Park in Goun-dong, Sejong, on Friday, a day after the accident at the paid, reservation-based facility. Korea Times photo by Chung Min-seung

An 11-year-old elementary school student died after being struck by a falling goalpost at a neighborhood futsal court in Sejong City.

Sejong Nambu Police Station said Friday the incident happened around 3:55 p.m. the previous day at the futsal court in Solddeul Park, Goun-dong. Authorities received a report that the boy, identified as A, was bleeding from a head injury. When emergency responders arrived, he was in cardiac arrest. The boy was taken to a nearby hospital but was pronounced dead.

Police said the boy had been practicing penalty kicks with a friend, taking turns as the kicker and goalkeeper. During his turn in goal, the boy reportedly hung from the net at the top of the goalpost.

Because the goalpost was not fixed to the ground, it could be rocked back and forth. At one point, the metal goalpost lost balance and toppled forward, causing the boy to fall with it and suffer fatal injuries.

A police official said the front frame of the goalpost was large and heavy, with its weight centered toward the front. Authorities are now investigating whether the goalpost was properly manufactured and installed according to safety standards.

The futsal court, built in 2014 and spanning 554 square meters, is operated and managed by the Sejong City Facility Management Office. A city official explained that according to FIFA futsal regulations, movable goalposts are recommended for futsal courts, and similar types are also used in other facilities.

However, the facility in question is a paid, reservation-based site equipped with tall metal fences and an electronic locking system. The city said that there was no reservation at the time of the accident, and the children reportedly unlocked the door from the outside and entered the facility without authorization.

A futsal goalpost stands opposite the fallen one at the court in Sejong, unfixed to the ground and without sandbags or weight supports at the back. Korea Times photo by Chung Min-seung

The locked gate could be easily opened, even by reaching in from outside. The internal switch controlling the lock was accessible even to an adult hand, making it possible for anyone to enter the facility without permission. The futsal court is located between an elementary school and a high school.

Even if the children entered without authorization, the city may still be held responsible for negligence in managing the facility. Despite being equipped with advanced systems, including CCTV monitored from a control room and speakers for public announcements, unauthorized entry was possible.

Police are now reviewing management regulations and plan to investigate whether there was any negligence on the part of the facility operator.

This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.