4:38 PM KTX Derailment
Ministry of Land Holds Emergency Meeting with Korail
Due to a KTX train derailment, trains heading from Dongdaegu Station to Busan Station experienced consecutive delays. According to Korail on the 18th, at 4:38 PM, a KTX train bound for Busan on the Gyeongbu high-speed line departing from Seoul stopped near Gomo Station in Suseong-gu, Daegu, while heading toward Singyeongju Station due to operational issues.
Korail explained, "After stopping, it was confirmed that one wheel had derailed from the track." As a result of the derailment, KTX and SRT trains traveling from Dongdaegu to Busan were delayed consecutively. Some trains bound for Pohang were also delayed.
As of 7 PM, the KTX mobile app displayed delay notices. For example, the KTX Cheongryong 181 train, scheduled to depart at 5:22 PM, was indicated to have an expected delay of 103 minutes.
In response, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport held an emergency meeting with Korail regarding the KTX-Sancheon derailment between Dongdaegu Station and Gyeongju Station.
Minister Park Sang-woo received reports from Korail officials on the accident status, response measures, and plans, and instructed, "To minimize public inconvenience, promptly restore the accident site and provide sufficient information regarding train delays."
Minister Park also ordered, "Conduct an accurate investigation into the cause of this accident and establish measures to prevent similar incidents from recurring, ensuring thorough precautions."
He added, "Since Korail is a public railway transportation corporation responsible for the safety and lives of the public, a rigorous inspection should be conducted to ensure Korail’s safety management system is functioning properly."
As of 9:30 PM that day, the KTX mobile app, Korail Talk, continued to display delay notices.
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