The government is considering requiring universities to collect plans of trips organized by students in advance as part of efforts to enhance safety measures.

“We are reviewing a measure to mandate that college field trips should be notified to the college authorities in advance,” said an official from the Ministry of Education on Sunday.

“The point of the measure is to ensure safety by sharing field trip plans with the college authorities,” said the official. “We are coordinating with colleges on how to implement the measure.”

The ministry, however, noted that the measure did not mean all trips would be subject to advance notification. It would ask the universities to selectively receive notification from students considering the scope and nature of the trips, it said.

The move came days after two female college students died on a field trip with classmates. Both died after falling from a building where they were drinking with her classmates.

Last year, nine college students were killed in a building collapse during a retreat session they attended.

Since then, the government has beefed up safety measures, requiring college authorities to be involved in hosting school retreats for freshmen. Previously, student councils alone hosted the events, according to the ministry.

By Yeo Jun-suk (jasonyeo@heraldcorp.com)