Ministry of Land Imposes 780 Million KRW Fine on Seoul Metro, Korail, and Railroad Corporation for Electrocution Accidents and Train Derailments

Seoul Metro fined 360 million KRW
KORAIL 300 million KRW, Korea Rail Network Authority 120 million KRW

A KTX train is stopped near the Seoul Metropolitan Area Railroad Vehicle Maintenance Unit. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport imposes fines totaling 780 million KRW on Seoul Metro, Korea Railroad Corporation (KORAIL), and the Korea Rail Network Authority for violating railway safety regulations. The fines are 360 million KRW for Seoul Metro, 300 million KRW for KORAIL, and 120 million KRW for the Rail Network Authority. These measures address railway accidents that occurred in the first half of this year.

On the 21st, the Ministry announced that the Administrative Sanctions Deliberation Committee, held on the 18th, resolved to impose these fines related to the railway accidents. The accidents constitute violations of the "Railway Safety Act."

Seoul Metro must pay a fine of 360 million KRW for the electric shock accident involving a worker in the electrical room at Yeonsinnae Station on Line 3 in Seoul, which occurred on June 9. One worker died in the accident. The accident happened because all electrical equipment in the distribution panel inside the electrical room was not powered off, and safety equipment such as high-voltage insulating gloves was not worn.

KORAIL’s fine amounts to 300 million KRW. Of this, 180 million KRW is related to the collision and derailment accident between the KTX and Mugunghwa trains at Seoul Station on April 18. The train driver used an electronic device while operating the train, neglecting the duty to observe signals and the route ahead, which caused the accident. At that time, the Seoul Station master also failed to indicate the stopping position with stop hand signals or train stop markers. The property damage from this accident was approximately 690 million KRW. According to the Railway Safety Act, if property damage is between 500 million KRW and less than 1 billion KRW, a fine of 180 million KRW must be imposed.

On May 8, the Rail Network Authority must pay an additional 120 million KRW for operating trains without approval on the Miho River Bridge improvement section of the Chungbuk Line. The Rail Network Authority pays the same level of fine. When the railway safety management system changes due to new railway line construction or other reasons, approval from the Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport must be obtained for the changes. However, KORAIL and the Rail Network Authority violated this requirement.

Separately from these fines, administrative sanctions were also imposed on 10 railway workers who were fined for violating the Railway Safety Act. Among them, four were penalized for "using electronic devices while driving."

Jeong Ui-gyeong, Director of Railway Safety Policy at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, stated, "We will strengthen safety management to prevent railway workers from violating safety rules that could lead to serious accidents."