Seoul Metro Selected as an Excellent Institution for Active Administration by the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission This Year

Korea Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission Awards Institution and Individual for Active Administration Public Application Contributions
Institution Recognized for Actively Resolving 5 Civil Complaints Including ‘Measures to Prevent Subway Door Entrapment Accidents’
Individual Awarded to Vehicle Maintenance Chief Hwang Bong-deuk for ‘Improvement of Sudden Braking in Line 1 Trains’
President Baekho: “Significant as a Result of Actively Collecting and Reviewing Citizen Opinions and Efforts to Walk Together with Citizens”

Seoul Metro (President Baek Ho) was honored with awards in both the institutional and individual categories at the 2023 Active Administration Public Application Merit Awards ceremony held by the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission on the 21st, recognizing its proactive efforts in handling tasks.

This award was given based on an evaluation of exemplary cases where active administration public applications submitted by citizens were effectively reflected in the work of central administrative agencies, local governments, and public institutions. Ten institutions and thirteen individuals were selected after a comprehensive assessment of proactive task handling in response to the Commission’s recommendations, key achievements, and ripple effects.

In the institutional category, Seoul Metro was recognized for actively resolving five complaints received through active administration public applications, including ▲measures to prevent subway door entrapment accidents ▲improvements to inconveniences caused by delays in elevator installation at subway stations ▲and enhanced guidance and promotion to keep seats reserved for pregnant women vacant, based on the Commission’s recommendations.

The measures to prevent door entrapment accidents included installing an additional 251 CCTV cameras at vulnerable locations to eliminate monitoring blind spots and deploying safety assistants at 24 stations with high congestion, implementing proactive accident prevention measures.

In the individual category, Hwang Bong-deuk, Deputy General Manager of the Vehicle Maintenance Department, received an award for “Improving citizen inconvenience caused by sudden stops on Subway Line 1.” Deputy General Manager Hwang achieved a reduction in sudden stops caused by signal malfunctions from approximately 2,200 cases annually to zero through signal device improvements. This case was also selected as an exemplary case of active administration public application and was introduced at the awards ceremony.

Line 1 had frequently experienced emergency brakes triggered by signal device errors. From 2020 to 2022, there were 6,700 sudden stops caused by train signal device issues on the Line 1 operation section (Seoul Station to Cheongnyangni Station). This led to numerous complaints about passenger falls, train delays, and safety concerns.

Reflecting citizens’ opinions submitted through the active administration public application, Seoul Metro digitally upgraded the signal devices on Line 1 trains, reducing the annual number of sudden stops caused by signal malfunctions from about 2,200 to zero. Although Line 1 is scheduled to be replaced with new trains starting in 2026, raising concerns internally and externally that signal device upgrades might result in budget waste, the active administration public application complaint played a decisive role in justifying the project.

Baek Ho, President of Seoul Metro, stated, “The cases recognized in this award were achieved by actively collecting and reviewing citizens’ opinions and thoroughly reflecting them in subway operations, which is significant as a result of our efforts alongside the citizens. Moving forward, we will do our best to maintain the highest level of safety and promptly resolve inconveniences based on citizens’ opinions received not only through the active administration public application system but also through various channels.”