Delay in Recovery of 'Yeongdeungpo Station Derailment' Accident "Normalization by 5:30 PM"... Union Announces Strike Warning (Comprehensive)

Korail "Vehicle retrieval and other processes require considerable time"
228 train operations adjusted on the 7th
Confusion worsened due to civic group protests
Seogyo Gong two major unions "Starting legal compliance strike from the 16th"

Recovery work for the Mugunghwa train derailment accident at Yeongdeungpo Station that occurred on the afternoon of the 6th has been delayed, and disruptions to train services during the evening commute on the 7th are expected. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Oh Gyumin] Recovery work for the Mugunghwa train derailment accident at Yeongdeungpo Station that occurred on the afternoon of the 6th has been delayed, and disruptions to train use during the evening commute on the 7th are expected.

Korea Railroad Corporation (KORAIL) announced that the recovery, originally expected to be completed by 4:00 PM that day, will be finished at 5:30 PM, 1 hour and 30 minutes later. KORAIL stated, "The full-scale recovery work began around 3:00 AM with power shutdown after preliminary tasks such as removing the overhead wire and signal equipment," adding, "Throughout the night, 160 recovery personnel and equipment including cranes and motor cars have been fully mobilized to carry out the recovery."

However, KORAIL explained, "Since the accident site is adjacent to the train operation tracks, considerable time is required for vehicle retrieval, restoration of removed overhead wires, and track maintenance, which inevitably delayed the scheduled recovery time."

Due to the derailment, train operations have been disrupted since the morning of the day. From 4:00 PM until the end of train operations, a total of 31 trains, including 23 KTX trains and 8 regular trains, will be suspended across all sections. Two trains (both KTX) have shortened operation sections or changed departure stations. In total, 228 train operations have been adjusted, including suspensions and shortened routes. Until the accident recovery is complete, all KTX and regular trains will not stop at Yongsan Station and Yeongdeungpo Station.

Electric trains (subways) have also experienced shortened operation sections or suspensions. The Gwangmyeong Station shuttle electric train (Yeongdeungpo~Gwangmyeong) has been suspended. The Dongincheon express electric train operates between Guro and Dongincheon, the Gyeongchun Line electric train between Chuncheon and Sangbong, and the Suin-Bundang Line electric train between Wangsimni and Incheon, all with shortened operation sections.

KORAIL urged, "Please be sure to check train operation status in advance through KORAIL Talk, the customer center, or the Let's KORAIL website," and added, "Due to train operation suspensions and adjustments, passenger concentration at major stations has increased congestion, so we ask passengers to use alternative transportation."

Confusion intensified as protests by the National Solidarity for the Elimination of Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities (Jeonjangyeon) overlapped from the morning. Jeonjangyeon held a subway protest starting at 8 a.m. from the Samgakji Station platform on Subway Line 4.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

The nationwide protest by the National Solidarity Against Disability Discrimination (Jeonjangyeon) compounded the morning commute chaos. Jeonjangyeon held a subway protest starting at 8:00 AM from the Samgakji Station platform on Subway Line 4. They had suspended protests during the national mourning period related to the Itaewon tragedy but resumed on this day. They moved from Samgakji Station to Dongdaemun History & Culture Park Station, transferred to Line 5 to Yeouido Station, then transferred to Line 9 to the National Assembly Station. The subway trains where they protested experienced delays in various locations. Jeonjangyeon plans to continue subway boarding protests from this day until the 11th.

Meanwhile, strikes by the two major Seoul Metro unions have also been announced. The two unions of Seoul Metro held a press conference that morning, stating, "Starting from the 16th, we will begin a two-person safety inspection compliance struggle, and if the Seoul city government or the central government does not present manpower and safety measures, we will launch a general strike from the 30th."

In the strike approval vote held from the 1st to the 4th, the general strike was approved with a 79.7% approval rate of total voters (70.8% of total members). Out of 13,831 total union members, 12,292 voted, with 9,793 in favor.

The two major unions, Seoul Metro Union and the Integrated Union, formed a coalition this year and conducted collective wage negotiations with management for the next year. When management proposed on October 4th to reduce 1,539 personnel, the unions declared a breakdown of negotiations on the 6th and initiated dispute procedures including applying for mediation at the Seoul Regional Labor Relations Commission. Previously, Seoul Metro union strikes occurred in 2016.

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