Subway Vehicle Breakdown Accident at Gireum Station Amid Absence of Seoul Metro Safety Management Headquarters Chief

Woo Hyeong-chan, Chair of Seoul City Council Transportation Committee, Criticizes Issue of Reassigning Safety Management Director Appointed 4 Months Ago via Public Recruitment to Technical Director Amid Vehicle Breakdown on Upbound Track at Gireum Station on the Morning of the 7th

[Asia Economy Reporter Jong-il Park] On the morning of the 7th, a vehicle heading towards Danggogae on Seoul Subway Line 4 at Gireum Station broke down, causing commuters to be anxious during their morning commute.

Fortunately, the issue was properly addressed, and normal operation resumed shortly thereafter.

In particular, this incident occurred while the position of the Head of the Safety Management Headquarters at Seoul Metro was vacant, prompting criticism questioning whether past safety accidents at Gangnam Station, Guui Station, and Gimpo Airport Station have been forgotten.

The Seoul Metropolitan Council Transportation Committee (Chairman Woo Hyung-chan·photo, Democratic Party, Yangcheon 3) issued a press release on the 7th expressing strong regret over Seoul Metro’s personnel decision to reassign the current Head of the Safety Management Headquarters, who was appointed only four months ago, to the position of Head of the Technical Headquarters, and to have the Safety Management Headquarters led by an acting officer.

Originally, Seoul Metro planned to form an executive recommendation committee to appoint the Heads of the Vehicle Headquarters and Technical Headquarters, whose terms had expired, through a public recruitment process and appoint full-time directors.

However, Seoul Metro appointed only the Head of the Vehicle Headquarters, did not appoint the Head of the Technical Headquarters, and instead reassigned the current Head of the Safety Management Headquarters to the Technical Headquarters position, having the Safety Management Headquarters led by an acting officer. This incomprehensible personnel move was criticized as an attempt to undermine the decision of the executive recommendation committee.

The Transportation Committee members emphasized that the Safety Management Headquarters plays a central role in managing and supervising safe operation across all sections of Lines 1 to 8, in line with Seoul Metro’s top management goal of “safety” established during the 2017 merger of the two metro corporations.

The Head of the Safety Management Headquarters is the most senior among the six headquarters within Seoul Metro and holds the most important position responsible for thoroughly managing and supervising subway safety operations to prevent incidents like the screen door accidents that occurred at Gangnam Station, Guui Station, and Gimpo Airport Station in the past.

Nevertheless, leaving the position of Head of the Safety Management Headquarters vacant, the leader of subway safety management, raises concerns that Seoul Metro may be neglecting citizen safety in subway operations. It was stated that careful consideration should be given as to whether reassigning the Safety Management Headquarters Head, who was appointed only four months ago, is appropriate for the safe operation of Seoul Subway and whether the personnel decision considered its impact.

Meanwhile, on the morning of the 7th, a vehicle breakdown occurred on the upper track at Gireum Station, drawing attention. The train bound for Danggogae on the upper track of Line 4 at Gireum Station experienced a malfunction, but related staff promptly responded and restored the situation.

Transportation Committee Chairman Woo Hyung-chan said, “The Head of the Safety Management Headquarters at Seoul Metro holds a grave responsibility for the safe operation of Seoul Subway,” and criticized, “If the Technical Headquarters was important enough to have the Safety Management Headquarters led by an acting officer, Seoul Metro should have carefully considered appointing the Head of the Technical Headquarters, but it is regrettable that this was not done.”

Meanwhile, at the Seoul Metropolitan Council Transportation Committee meeting held on the 29th of last month, it was reported that Vice Chairman Lee Eun-joo and others strongly recommended restoring the Safety Management Headquarters Head, who was selected through public recruitment, to their original position and appointing the first-ranked candidate for the Head of the Technical Headquarters.