Seoul Subway Chaos on Commute Home... Seogyo Gong's First Strike in 6 Years

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Jae-hee] On the 30th, the labor union of Seoul Metro, which operates the Seoul subway, went on strike, causing significant delays in train operations during the evening rush hour and resulting in severe congestion at subway stations.

According to Seoul Metro, as of 7 p.m. that day, Line 2 operations were delayed by 33 minutes on the inner loop and 27 minutes on the outer loop.

Line 3 experienced delays of 25 minutes on the upward line and 28 minutes on the downward line. Line 1 was delayed by 10 to 20 minutes, and Line 4 by 10 to 18 minutes. Lines 5 through 8 were operating without major delays.

Line 2 saw particularly severe delays around Gangnam, Yeoksam, and Yeongdeungpo-gu Office stations, where passengers typically crowd during the evening commute.

At one point, the interval between trains on the Gangnam to Yeoksam section stretched to 20 minutes, causing great inconvenience to passengers. Crowds waiting for trains filled not only the platforms but also the ticket gates and stairways leading to the ground level within the stations.

The situation worsened on Line 3 due to a breakdown of trains operated by Korail, increasing congestion.

Seoul Metro deployed substitute personnel to minimize operational disruptions, but the train operation rate during the evening rush hour (6 to 8 p.m.) fell to 85.7% of normal levels, resulting in continued train delays.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government extended the concentrated dispatch time for city buses by 30 to 60 minutes during the evening rush hour and deployed charter buses at stations with heavy passenger traffic, but these measures were insufficient to accommodate the commuting passengers.

Citizens who found it difficult to board the subway tried to take buses and taxis in the cold wave, but the sudden influx of people caused further congestion.

A Seoul Metro official said, "Due to delayed operations causing wider intervals between trains, we are unable to transport evening commuters quickly," adding, "About 10 police officers have been deployed at Yeoksam Station, and additional personnel will be assigned to Gangnam Station."

The Seoul Metro labor union began the strike at 6:30 a.m., when daytime shifts started, following the breakdown of wage and collective bargaining negotiations the previous day.

This strike by the Seoul Metro labor union is the first in six years since September 2016, covering Lines 1 through 8.