Seoul Metro "Train and Station Disinfection Area 240 Times Larger Than Seoul City"... Publishes 'COVID-19 White Paper'

White Paper on Seoul Subway Response to COVID-19 Spread in Korea Since January Last Year
Total Cumulative Disinfection Area of Train Cars and Stations in 2020 Reached 153,000 km², 240 Times the Area of Seoul

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] Seoul Metro announced on the 26th that it will publish a "COVID-19 White Paper" later this month, documenting its efforts to respond to COVID-19 in the Seoul subway over the past 15 months since the domestic spread began in January last year.

The white paper includes basic information such as COVID-19 related data, statistics, and infographics, as well as measures implemented by the corporation, analysis of subway transportation demand impacts, emergency business continuity plans, and operational performance to date?providing information that other organizations can reference and utilize regarding COVID-19.

Through the white paper, the corporation highlighted its rapid response to the infectious disease crisis under the principles of "thorough disinfection and uninterrupted transportation service." Immediately after the first confirmed case in Seoul, an Emergency Countermeasure Headquarters was established, followed by the formation of the "Novel Coronavirus Disaster Safety Countermeasure Headquarters" to oversee the COVID-19 situation in real time. Notably, the cumulative area of train cars disinfected over the past year reached approximately 23,000 km², and the cumulative area of subway stations (291 stations on lines 1 to 8) reached about 130,000 km². Combined, these total 153,000 km², which is 240 times the area of Seoul City (approximately 605 km²).

The white paper also includes the corporation’s efforts to prevent the spread of infection among its employees who face nearly 6.5 million daily passengers. Given the nature of subway transportation services, where employees come into direct or indirect contact with countless passengers, there was a strong awareness that infection of a single employee could lead to a fatal mass transmission among passengers.

The corporation has made the published white paper available on its official website so that anyone interested can access it. Kim Sang-beom, President of Seoul Metro, stated, “While compiling the white paper, we realized that the greatest vaccine is the ‘citizens’ practice,’ meaning that thanks to the public’s participation in preventive measures such as social distancing and mask-wearing, the subway has continued to operate without stopping. We will continue to strive to keep the subway running despite the difficult circumstances ahead.”

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