20 Years of Seoul Subway Platform Screen Doors Installation, Average Annual Deaths Reduced to Zero

Average Annual Fatalities Drop from 37.1 to 0.4
Fine Dust Concentration Decreases by About 20%
Noise Levels Down by Approximately 7.9%, Cooling Efficiency Also Improves

Since Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon initiated the installation of platform screen doors across subway lines 1 to 8 in 2006, the annual average number of subway-related fatalities has decreased from around 37 to zero. Additionally, energy efficiency within stations has improved, and platform air quality has significantly enhanced.

According to Seoul city statistics on the 10th, the number of deaths recorded from 2001 to 2009, before the completion of platform screen door installation, ranged from 31 to 49 cases annually (an average of 37.1). In contrast, from 2010 to last year, after the installation was completed, the number of deaths dropped to approximately 0 to 2 cases per year (an average of 0.4).

Notably, there were a total of three deaths among contract workers after the introduction of platform screen doors, but this number dropped to zero following the transition to direct management by the Korea Railroad Corporation in 2017. Passenger entrapment fatalities also decreased from two cases to zero after the laser scanner-type sensor was improved in 2017.

Subway platform screen door. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung

Previously, Seoul had promoted the installation of safety doors on platforms in accordance with the establishment of Article 30-2 (Safety Facilities on Platforms) of the Urban Railway Construction Regulations in 2004.

This was a result of Mayor Oh Se-hoon's decision in 2006 at the ‘Seoul Clear Air Measures Meeting’ to install platform screen doors throughout all stations to enhance subway user safety and improve air quality on platforms. The pilot project was initiated during former Mayor Lee Myung-bak’s administration, and Mayor Oh took over to fully implement and complete the safety facilities.

Before installation, there were frequent fatal incidents caused by reckless acts such as jumping onto trains or pushing people standing on platforms, resulting in numerous casualties. From 2005 to 2009, Seoul completed the nationwide first full installation of platform screen doors at 262 stations across subway lines 1 to 8 over five years.

Provided by Seoul City.

After the installation of platform screen doors, fine dust concentration inside underground stations decreased by approximately 20%. Seoul city explained, "Platform screen doors block contaminants and train-induced wind from the tracks, improving platform air quality."

Furthermore, noise measurements on platforms showed a reduction from 78.3 dB to 72.1 dB, a decrease of about 7.9%, according to Seoul’s analysis. Cooling efficiency also increased, resulting in estimated electricity cost savings of about 181 million KRW per day and approximately 16.7 billion KRW during the months of June to August.