As of the 25th, concerns grow over 62 construction workers, 31 subsidiary employees, and 18 partner company staff testing positive... Criticism mounts over the construction's complacent response amid over a month-long vacancy in the safety management director position
Kim Sang-beom, President of Seoul Metro (right), is visiting Gunja Vehicle Depot and having a conversation with officials.
[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] The Seoul Metropolitan Government’s subway operator, Seoul Metro, which serves as the lifeline for Seoul citizens, has reported a total of 113 confirmed cases of COVID-19, raising concerns about gaps in quarantine measures and increasing worries about the health of Seoul residents.
According to Seoul Metro, as of the 25th, there have been 113 confirmed COVID-19 cases among employees: 62 staff members, 2 social service agents, 31 subsidiary employees, and 18 partner company workers.
Additionally, 79 family members have also tested positive, heightening concerns about emergency quarantine measures for citizens.
The company sounded the alarm after one train operator from the Jamsil crew on Subway Line 8 tested positive on the 6th, followed by eight more operators becoming infected, totaling nine confirmed cases.
Subsequently, seven employees at the Changdong Train Depot also tested positive.
Notably, the number of confirmed cases among company employees has steadily continued daily: 2 on the 5th, 1 on the 6th, 3 on the 7th, 4 on the 8th, 1 each day from the 9th to the 13th, 2 on the 14th, 5 on the 15th, 1 on the 16th, 2 on the 17th, 2 on the 19th, and 3 on the 20th.
Accordingly, on the 27th from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., the company operated a screening clinic at Sinjeong Train Depot for employees to undergo specimen testing.
President Kim Sang-beom, at the executive meeting held the previous day, urged, “Each employee must have a sense of risk and thoroughly manage themselves,” but no other specific countermeasures were prepared.
As COVID-19 cases among Seoul Metro employees continue to emerge, concerns about potential transmission to citizens are also growing.
Seoul resident A said, “I am worried because COVID-19 cases have not been decreasing easily, and now employees, including train operators, at Seoul Metro, which operates the subway that is the lifeline for citizens, are testing positive. As a citizen, this is very concerning.”
In particular, the position of the Head of Safety Management at the company has been vacant for over a month, raising voices of concern about whether there is sufficient awareness of citizen safety.
Council Member B of the Seoul Metropolitan Council’s Transportation Committee criticized, “Not only subway accidents, which are the lifeline for citizens, but also COVID-19 confirmed cases fall under the jurisdiction of the Head of Safety Management. It is frustrating that this position has been left vacant for such a long time.”
In response, a company official stated, “As a public transportation operator, the company regularly conducts proactive testing to ensure citizen safety. In particular, sampling specimen tests are conducted on crew and control staff for continuous management.”
They added, “From December 28 last year to January 25 this year, two rounds of testing were conducted on 43,466 people (including employees, subsidiaries, and partner company staff, cumulative for the first and second rounds), proactively identifying 24 patients. Since the COVID-19 alert level was raised to a serious stage in January last year, we have been performing the highest level of subway quarantine to ensure citizen safety.”
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
