Calls Grow for Clear Identification of Causes Behind Sindorim Station Train Derailment and Other Accidents,
and for Effective Countermeasures...
Seoul Metro Holds Safety Commitment Rally on the 18th,
Urges Employees to Remain Vigilant
#At around 7:50 a.m. on the 23rd of last month, a train waiting for dispatch at Sindorim Station on Seoul Subway Line 2 violated a stop signal and collided with a buffer stop at the end of the track, causing a derailment.
Fortunately, there were no passengers on board the train at the time of the accident, so there were no casualties. However, service was suspended for approximately 9 hours and 40 minutes on the outbound loop between Hongdaeipgu Station and Seoul National University Station, causing significant inconvenience for millions of Seoul residents.
Seoul Metro suspended the train operator from duty the following day, on the 24th. Subsequently, the company also replaced the executive in charge.
#At around 8:16 a.m. on the 15th, an incident occurred on Seoul Subway Line 4 at Gireum Station, where the door of a southbound train bound for Oido malfunctioned, startling passengers and causing them to disembark.
#In addition, in June of last year, an employee working in the electrical room at Yeonsinnae Station on Subway Line 3 was electrocuted and died due to non-compliance with work regulations and insufficient power shutdown measures.
With such accidents occurring one after another in the Seoul subway system, public concern is growing.
The Seoul subway is an essential means of transportation for 20 million residents of Seoul and the greater metropolitan area. However, as the city marks the 50th anniversary of the subway's opening, concerns about aging infrastructure are also mounting.
Officials from the Seoul Metropolitan Government and Seoul Metro are increasingly worried, especially as of June 2024, the company's total debt has reached 7.0833 trillion won, amid the recent spate of subway accidents.
In particular, they are concerned about the following: a sharp increase in losses from free rides (366.3 billion won in 2023); rising interest expenses due to high interest rates (105.4 billion won in 2023); the financial burden of the Climate Companion Card (20.5 billion won as of September 2024); and an operating loss of 798 won per passenger. They fear these factors could lead to a deterioration in facility replacement and maintenance, increasing the risk of future accidents.
Nevertheless, it is also pointed out that lax discipline among employees plays a major role in the occurrence of accidents, making the need for countermeasures urgent.
An official from Seoul Metro stated, "In the subway system, even a momentary lapse in vigilance can lead to an accident anywhere, so maintaining strict discipline among employees is extremely important."
Seoul Metro Holds Safety Commitment Rally on the 18th to Protect Citizens' Safety
Pledge to Ensure Citizens' Safety and Safe Train Operations Through Safety Commitment Oath
On the 18th, Seoul Metro held a Safety Commitment Rally aimed at achieving accident- and breakdown-free operations, pledging to ensure the safety of citizens and the safe operation of trains. Seoul Metro President Baek Ho and executives and staff members committed to making the safety and lives of citizens their top priority and to focusing all their efforts on preventing recurring accidents.
In addition, the rally included training to strengthen safety awareness. Participating executives and employees analyzed accident cases by field, reviewed causes of accidents, and shared specific response measures tailored to on-site conditions.
Major accident cases by technical field included: electrical (electrocution), information and communications (falls during construction), track (motorcar collision), signaling (train contact during tunnel troubleshooting), mechanical (escalator step damage), electronics (flap overturn), civil engineering (overpass deck collapse), architecture (ceiling material detachment), and platform screen doors (UPS fire).
President Baek Ho emphasized, "All executives and employees must faithfully fulfill their respective roles and never take the weight of their responsibilities lightly. We must be vigilant to avoid overlooking even the smallest risks, and must be equipped with the ability to put this awareness into action on site, so that Seoul Subway can become a system citizens can use with peace of mind. Let us all work together with one heart to achieve this."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
