'Gonggambaekbae' Due to Urgent Issue... 125 Subway Trains Delayed Over 20 Minutes on Morning Commute

Train Conductor "Urgent Bathroom Need" Reason
Due to Circular Train Characteristics, Operates for 2-3 Hours
No Onboard Restroom, Must Use Station Facilities

A Seoul subway conductor used the restroom during train operation, causing a series of delays for the trains.

On the 26th, Seoul Metro announced that around 8:11 a.m. the previous day, a conductor operating the outer loop of Seoul Subway Line 2 arrived at a station, got off the train, and used the restroom.

The conductor used the restroom for about 4 minutes and returned immediately. Although the time was short, subsequent trains stopped one after another, and as the delays accumulated, the operation was delayed by more than 20 minutes compared to the scheduled time. However, it was reported that passengers did not feel the delay.

Morning scene of commuters on the Seoul subway. Not related to any specific expression in the article. Photo by Jo Yong-jun

The total delay time was about 20 minutes, but the delay for each train was only between 1 to 5 minutes. Therefore, the perceived delay time experienced by passengers was not long.

Meanwhile, this is not the first time that train operation was delayed because conductors or drivers urgently used the restroom. Currently, Line 2 trains operate with a two-person crew system, with a driver and a conductor on board; the driver sits at the front of the train, and the conductor sits at the rear.

Due to the circular nature of Line 2, crew members must continuously operate the train for 2 to 3 hours once they board. Moreover, since there are no restrooms inside the trains, in emergency situations, they have no choice but to use the station restrooms.

Netizens who heard this story responded with comments such as "This kind of delay should be understood humanely," "It's okay to wait for this," and "A restroom should be installed inside the driver's cabin."