Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's Inspection of 'KTX Derailment Accident'... "Strict Measures Will Be Taken If Violations Are Found"

On the afternoon of the 5th, a KTX-Sancheon train traveling from Seoul to Dongdaegu derailed, and passengers are moving to a replacement train. [Image source=Yonhap News]

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced that from the 10th to the 14th, a five-day joint inspection of high-speed train safety management will be conducted together with the Korea Transportation Safety Authority regarding the KTX-Sancheon train accident on the Gyeongbu Line that occurred on the 5th.

This inspection is a follow-up measure to the incident that occurred around 11:53 a.m. on the 5th, when a KTX-Sancheon train derailed after its wheels were damaged between Daejeon and Gimcheon-Gumi stations on the Gyeongbu High-Speed Line.

Separately from the self-inspection conducted by Korea Railroad Corporation (KORAIL) from the 5th to the 12th, the Ministry plans to focus on inspecting the appropriateness of the establishment and implementation of KORAIL’s high-speed train maintenance plans, as well as compliance with the railway safety management system.

To ensure a thorough inspection, the Ministry has formed an inspection team consisting of five railway safety supervisors and six inspectors from the Korea Transportation Safety Authority.

Additionally, a dedicated task force (TF) composed of renowned experts from related organizations, industry, and academia will closely review the exact causes and circumstances of the accident, the response status of each agency, and user-related services, aiming to establish high-speed rail safety management measures within this month.

Im Jong-il, Director of Railway Safety Policy at the Ministry, emphasized, "We will establish safety management measures based on accurate and thorough inspections," adding, "If any legal violations are found during this inspection, strict measures will be taken."

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