Seoul Subway Line 9 Legal Compliance Strike... Possible Delays in Train Intervals During Evening Commute

Demand to Withdraw 2nd and 3rd Phase Private Consignment Plan
Safety and Management Staff Deployed on Platforms
Subway Operating Normally in Most Sections

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo Byung-don] The Seoul Metro Line 9 Branch of the Korean Public Service and Transport Workers' Union (hereinafter the union) began a legal strike on the 3rd, demanding the Seoul Metropolitan Government withdraw its plan to privatize phases 2 and 3 of Subway Line 9.

However, the Seoul Transportation Corporation Line 9 Operations Division (hereinafter the management) took measures such as deploying customer safety personnel and management staff on the platforms, so there was no disruption during the morning commute. The management also stated that during the evening rush hour, door operation might be slower than usual and train turnaround could be delayed.

The union is demanding the withdrawal of the privatization plan for phases 2 and 3 of Seoul Subway Line 9 (the section from Eonju Station to Jungang Veterans Hospital Station). Seoul Subway Line 9 was constructed as a private investment project, with phase 1 (Gaehwa Station to Sinnonhyeon Station) operated by the private company 'Seoul Metro Line 9,' while phases 2 and 3, built as a Seoul city-funded project, are managed by the Line 9 Operations Division, a company-in-company (CIC) under Seoul Transportation Corporation.

The operator for phases 2 and 3 of Line 9 has been selected by the Seoul Metropolitan Government every three years since 2014 through private consignment, but in practice, Seoul Transportation Corporation has been responsible for operations. However, on the 30th of last month, the Seoul Metropolitan Council unanimously passed the privatization plan for phases 2 and 3 submitted by the Seoul city government. Seoul plans to select a contractor through a restricted competitive bidding process. The consignment period is three years, from September 1 this year to August 31, 2023. In response, the union held a press conference in front of Seoul City Hall on the 2nd and announced that they would begin legal strikes starting from the 3rd, when the city issues the privatization recruitment notice.

Meanwhile, on the morning the legal strike began, around 8 a.m., the 8:01 regular train and the 8:09 express train heading from Yeouido Station toward Jungang Veterans Hospital arrived two minutes late, but the subway operated normally on most sections. Train intervals were also maintained as much as possible, so commuters did not experience significant inconvenience.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.