Internal Conflict Threatens Seoul Subway Safety as City Government Remains Inactive

Prolonged Conflict Between Seoul Metro Management and Audit Office
Union: "Seoul Metropolitan Government Must Fulfill Its Supervisory Responsibilities"

Concerns are mounting that the prolonged conflict between the management of Seoul Metro, which operates subway lines 1 through 8, and the Audit Office could negatively impact the safe operation of the subway. Due to this conflict, the president's position has become vacant, and the company is facing a situation that is difficult to resolve internally. Despite this, criticism is growing that the Seoul Metropolitan Government, which holds supervisory authority and personnel rights, has failed to take action.

Concerns are growing that the prolonged conflict between the management of Seoul Metro and the Audit Office could negatively impact the safe operation of the subway. Photo by Jo Yongjun.

The conflict between the management and the Audit Office began immediately after former President Baek Ho and Standing Auditor Sung Junggi took office in 2023. Former President Baek is a former public official who previously served as Director of Urban Transportation for the Seoul Metropolitan Government, while Auditor Sung is a politician who served twice as a Seoul Metropolitan Council member for the People Power Party.

The management and the Audit Office clashed on multiple occasions. Regarding the order of new subway cars, the Audit Office suspected that those involved in the contract were colluding with a specific company, while the management countered by claiming that the Audit Office was favoring another specific company. During this process, the Audit Office reported the matter to investigative authorities, leading to an investigation of those involved. Conversely, Auditor Sung was also reported for alleged misuse of business expenses, resulting in an extreme standoff.

Ultimately, former President Baek took responsibility and resigned in November of last year, but the issue only intensified. At the end of last month, Auditor Sung announced plans to conduct a "special audit" of all personnel administration work over the past three years, but withdrew the plan just one day later amid controversy that it was retaliatory. It was also rumored that the conflict began when Auditor Sung demanded that a specific Audit Office executive be excluded from sabbatical and remain in their current position, a request that was rejected by the management.

Last week, the Seoul Metro Labor Union (the first union) issued a statement, asking, "Does the auditor see the company as a playground for the abuse of authority and management manipulation?" and called on the Seoul Metropolitan Government, which appointed the 'problematic' auditor, to take strict responsibility and action.

The union criticized, "The parachuted auditor has become the source of immorality and scandal, including the misuse of corporate cards and corporate-level stalking and abuse of power," adding, "It is also inappropriate for Auditor Sung, as a high-ranking public official, to view his recent appointment as a policy advisory committee member for the People Power Party as a personal honor."

The Seoul Metro Integrated Labor Union (the second union) pointed out, "The organization has fallen into a state of serious chaos, which inevitably leads to a decline in subway safety," and criticized the Seoul Metropolitan Government for "abandoning its responsibility as a supervisory agency under the pretext of ensuring the autonomy of investment and funded institutions."

The Seoul Metro Right Labor Union, often referred to as the "Millennials & Gen Z Union," stated on January 9, "The special audit should be resumed," and demanded that "Mayor Oh Sehoon personally manage the issue instead of evading responsibility and remaining passive."