[Asia Exclusive] "Safe Railways for the People, Must Stay True to the Basics"

Interview with Kim Han-young, President of Korea Rail Network Authority
Complete Overhaul of Safety and Health Management System
Establishment of Dedicated Organization to Strengthen Control Tower
At Least One Inspection Per Half-Year to Prevent Major Accidents

Kim Han-young, President of the Korea National Railway, defined the reason for the corporation's existence as "to enhance the convenience of transportation for the people and contribute to the sound development of the national economy." This is based on the principle that railways should fundamentally be a means of transportation for the citizens who use them. To this end, President Kim emphasizes the importance of staying true to the basics. This means properly implementing the most fundamental aspects.

President Kim stated, "The best way to appropriately respond to changing external environments is to perform the corporation's core duties well." His goal for this year is to establish a firm pillar that will not be shaken by external winds by properly responding to the rapidly changing internal and external environment.

In particular, President Kim said, "Above all, the railway must be safe for the people," and in preparation for the Serious Accidents Punishment Act, which will be enforced starting this year, he has completely reorganized the safety and health management system. A dedicated task force (TF) was formed, and various internal regulations were revised with consulting from external legal experts. Additionally, to systematically manage safety and health activities, dedicated organizations were newly established at the headquarters and five regional headquarters to strengthen the control tower function. The fulfillment of obligations and responsibilities related to the prevention of serious accidents will be checked at least once every six months. Furthermore, during the design phase of railway construction projects, new safety technologies and products such as smart IoT helmets and safety hook fastening detection systems are reflected in the construction cost details. The corporation will also utilize VR safety education content developed in-house to provide virtual reality (VR) experiential training to new construction site workers before they start work.

Since his inauguration, President Kim has repeatedly emphasized 'integrity' to the employees. This is because no matter how well the work is done, if there is a problem with integrity, the organization loses trust and it can become difficult to even maintain the organization. In fact, through his inaugural and New Year's speeches, he stressed, "Integrity can be destroyed by a single mistake," and "It is essential to always keep in mind that all tasks must be carried out based on the standard of integrity."

◆About President Kim…

△ Born in 1957 in Sangju, Gyeongbuk △ Cheongju High School △ Konkuk University, Department of Public Administration △ Seoul National University Graduate School of Public Administration, Master of Policy Studies △ University of Leeds Graduate School of Transport, Master of Transport Planning and Engineering △ Seoul National University of Science and Technology Graduate School of Railway, Ph.D. in Business Administration △ Passed the 30th Administrative Examination △ Director of Railway Policy, Ministry of Construction and Transportation △ Head of Automobile Policy Planning Division, Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs △ Director of Logistics Policy, Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs △ Director of Aviation Policy Office, Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs △ Director of Transport Policy Office, Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs △ Invited Professor, Department of Railway Logistics, Woosong University △ President of Airport Railroad △ President of Korea National Railway

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