Seoul Subway Enters Emergency Safety System for Citizens Amid Heatwave

Seoul Metro Enters Emergency Mode to Ensure Citizen Safety Amid Heatwave

Special Intensive Inspections on Vulnerable Facilities and Safety of Passengers Due to Consecutive Heatwave Warnings

Efforts to Secure Citizen Safety Including Operation of Cooling Shelters and Water Provision for Heatwave-Vulnerable Groups

Emergency On-Site Inspections and Provision of Heating and Cooling Facilities for External Workers

Baekho, President of Seoul Metro, is visiting the site to inspect the facilities and urging employees to carry out their duties thoroughly.

Seoul Metro (President Baek Ho) has entered an emergency mode to prevent human accidents caused by the heatwave by conducting special inspections on vulnerable facilities and ensuring the safety of citizens and company workers.

Since August 1, the company has been conducting intensive inspections to ensure the safety of workers and passengers as well as managing vulnerable facilities, starting with monitoring the heatwave warnings issued across all areas of Seoul.

To maintain a comfortable temperature inside trains, special inspections are conducted daily, including performance tests of all air conditioning units and cooling devices inside train cars during entry and exit.

Additionally, 266 cooling shelters are operated within stations to provide water and other support so that heatwave-vulnerable groups can rest safely.

Due to continuous complaints from passengers about discomfort caused by outdoor temperatures at aboveground stations, customer waiting rooms have been installed at 12 locations across 8 stations. These waiting rooms utilize unused platform spaces at aboveground stations and are equipped with chairs and heating/cooling facilities to enhance passenger convenience. The company plans to install an additional 35 locations across 17 stations by 2024 in cooperation with the Seoul Metropolitan Government.

The company has been conducting intensive inspections of temperature-sensitive vulnerable facilities since August 1.

To prevent rail warping caused by rising temperatures, water spraying devices are operated at 13 aboveground sections. Furthermore, the operation status of fans is checked to prevent temperature increases inside various equipment such as communication, signaling, and mechanical devices, and the operation of refrigeration units and cooling towers is regularly inspected. The tension status of 219 overhead contact wire locations and temperature conditions of 396 substations and other facilities are monitored to prepare for any emergencies.

Kim Seong-ryeol, Head of the Technology Headquarters, is inspecting the safety devices within the construction site.

Protection measures are also implemented for 107 external workers at 16 sites, including subway platform convenience facility construction. Rest areas and shade tents are provided, along with drinking water and saline glucose, sufficient rest time is granted, and heatwave action guidelines are taught.

President Baek Ho stated, “In response to the ongoing heatwave warnings, we are fully prepared to ensure that citizens can use the subway safely and comfortably. We especially encourage the use of cooling shelters for vulnerable groups such as the elderly and pregnant women to ensure their safety.”