Mayor Oh Se-hoon and Kim Sang-beom, President of Seoul Metro, Take Up the 'Reform' Whip?

President Kim Reported Seoul Transportation Corporation Management Improvement Plan but Was Rejected; Mayor Oh Emphasizes on Creating a New Transportation Corporation at Breakfast Meeting with Seoul Transportation Committee Members on the 2nd; Attention on Remarks... Also, Civic Groups to File Complaint Against President Kim and Others on the 9th over Disabled Death Accident at Bucheon Sangdong Station Restroom, Raising Legal Responsibility Concerns

Sangbeom Kim, President of Seoul Metro (right)

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon is reportedly supporting Kim Sang-beom, President of Seoul Transportation Corporation, and has urged the corporation to resolve its challenges.

On the 2nd, Mayor Oh held a breakfast meeting with the Seoul City Council Transportation Committee (Chairman Woo Hyung-chan) and reportedly stated, "It is clear that the task of creating a new transportation corporation lies with the current president."

On that day, in response to Chairman Woo’s remark, "Even if (President Kim) is removed tomorrow, he must be supported. Only then will the employees follow," Mayor Oh is said to have made this statement.

This remark by Mayor Oh draws attention as Seoul Transportation Corporation has been struggling with management difficulties after incurring a deficit reaching 1 trillion won since the outbreak of COVID-19.

President Kim recently reported an innovation plan, including a proposal to reduce the workforce by 1,000 employees, to Mayor Oh, but it was evaluated as "insufficient," and he is currently preparing follow-up measures, attracting attention.

Mayor Oh’s statement is interpreted as a declaration of his will for President Kim to present clear alternatives that can achieve tangible results in reforming the corporation.

President Kim is reportedly making efforts to resolve the management difficulties, including obtaining permission from the Ministry of the Interior and Safety to issue 500 billion won in corporate bonds.

However, it is reported that he is struggling as there is no clear plan to resolve the continuously growing deficit of the corporation.

Meanwhile, a major incident involving the death of a disabled person at Sangdong Station in Bucheon has occurred, and civic groups have announced their intention to file a complaint with the prosecution on the 9th, drawing attention to whether criminal responsibility will be imposed.

Former President Lee Jung-won was fined 10 million won by the court due to a fatal accident at Guui Station, which has further heightened tensions.

Moreover, related to the delay in the construction of bidirectional ventilation facilities in the Seoul subway, Seoul City has issued ▲a warning to the head of the organization ▲requested an investigation of the former head of the technical headquarters ▲recommended dismissal of the mechanical department head, causing a series of troublesome issues, making it difficult for President Kim Sang-beom to avoid headaches.

Meanwhile, former President Kim Tae-ho, who served as president of Seoul Transportation Corporation (including the Urban Railway Corporation) for over five years, posted on his Facebook on April 14, "In an era where digital transformation is an important issue, successors who neglect or dismantle the already established digital systems rather than upgrading them raise doubts about whether they are leaders suitable for this era," seemingly criticizing President Kim.

In this regard, insiders within the corporation interpret this as a public expression of dissatisfaction through social media regarding President Kim Sang-beom’s downsizing of the digital-related organization, attracting attention.

The unusual situation where a former president criticizes the current mayor has become a topic of conversation.

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