Dismissal of Na Heeseung, Korail President, to Be Decided Today at Public Transport Committee

Responsibility for Repeated Train Derailments and Obong Station Fatality
Dismissal Upon Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's Recommendation and Presidential Approval
Possibility of President's Objection to CEO Dismissal

The government is set to discuss the dismissal proposal for Na Hee-seung, President of Korea Railroad Corporation (KORAIL). Earlier, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport recommended Na Hee-seung's dismissal, holding him responsible for the recent series of railway accidents. If the dismissal proposal for President Na is approved, it will be the first case in KORAIL's history where a president is dismissed by the government. However, since President Na is opposing the dismissal plan, there is a possibility that he may challenge the government's decision through administrative litigation.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

According to the government on the 27th, the Public Institution Management Committee (PIMC) of the Ministry of Strategy and Finance will review the dismissal proposal for President Na at a meeting held that morning.

If the dismissal proposal is approved by the PIMC, it will be forwarded to Minister Won Hee-ryong of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport for recommendation and then to the President, who holds the appointment authority, for final approval before President Na is officially notified of his dismissal.

President Na took office in November 2021 and still has nearly two years left in his term, but the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport recommended his dismissal, holding him accountable for recent railway accidents including the Obong Station fatal accident and the Yeongdeungpo Station Mugunghwa train derailment.

In particular, after three derailments and fatal accidents involving KTX and others occurred last year, the Ministry imposed a record-high fine of 1.8 billion KRW on KORAIL at the end of last month.

However, since President Na is opposing the dismissal action, there is also a possibility that he may refuse to accept the government’s measures even if the dismissal proposal is approved.

On the 15th, during a plenary session of the Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee, when Kim Hee-guk, a member of the People Power Party, mentioned the PIMC schedule and pressured him to resign, President Na said, "As the person responsible for the company's safety system, I believe I must fully explain myself until the end."

If the dismissal procedure is prolonged, there are concerns that a 'two presidents under one roof' situation could recur, similar to what happened with Korea Land and Geospatial Informatix Corporation (LX) and Incheon International Airport Corporation during the previous administration.

Choi Chang-hak, former president of Korea Land and Geospatial Informatix Corporation (LX), was dismissed in 2020 due to reasons including mobilizing a personal secretary and driver for private errands and inappropriate promotion of a drone education center. Afterwards, Choi filed a lawsuit against the government for unfair dismissal and ultimately won at the Supreme Court. Upon his reinstatement, LX experienced a 'two presidents under one roof' crisis at that time.

Similarly, Gu Bon-hwan, former president of Incheon International Airport Corporation, was dismissed in 2020 but filed a lawsuit against the President to cancel his dismissal, won the case, and was reinstated.

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