[2025 Audit] KORAIL: "Enhancing Maintenance with AI... Improving Staff Safety"

National Assembly Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee Audit of Railway Public Institutions Held on October 21

Jung Jeongrae, Acting President of Korea Railroad Corporation (KORAIL), stated on October 21, "We are currently developing railway safety measures through a joint task force involving labor, management, and the government. We plan to integrate artificial intelligence (AI) digital technologies into the safety sector to predict and manage on-site risk factors, and transition to a maintenance system utilizing advanced technologies."

Jung reported on these work initiatives during KORAIL’s parliamentary audit on this day, expressing a sense of responsibility regarding the railway accident that occurred in August. At that time, three track workers conducting a safety inspection near Cheongdo on the Gyeongbu Line were struck by a train, resulting in injuries and fatalities.

Jung also said, "We will expand the areas benefiting from high-speed rail and lead balanced regional development through a dense nationwide railway network. We will ensure the seamless introduction of next-generation high-speed trains and actively cooperate on projects such as the GTX and railway undergrounding." He added that KORAIL would leverage its accumulated experience in operations and maintenance to expand its overseas railway business and focus on establishing railway power plants.

A banner expressing condolences for the casualties and announcing a temporary closure during the mourning period is displayed at the entrance of a theme park near the site of the Gyeongbu Line train accident in Cheongdo County, Gyeongbuk. Photo by Yonhap News

Lee Seonghae, Chairman of the National Railway Authority, also pledged to ensure thorough safety management at railway construction sites. Lee stated, "We will establish a smart safety management system utilizing the latest technologies, such as AI-powered intelligent CCTV. We will shift from a facility management system that relies on worker experience and labor to a maintenance system based on data and equipment."

He continued, "For the 63 railway projects, including the Southern Inland Line and the double-track lines between Suseo and Gwangju, which are scheduled to begin construction at the end of the year, we will ensure timely completion through strict project management. We will improve the railway environment by upgrading vulnerable structures and facilities, and by installing additional safety and convenience features such as platform screen doors and escalators in stations." He also announced plans to evaluate the inclusion of carbon reduction equipment in technology-based bids and to pursue zero-energy building certification for railway stations, highlighting a commitment to carbon emission management.

Lee Jongguk, President of SR, said, "Given the characteristics of SRT routes with many underground tunnels, we are enhancing disaster response capabilities by developing advanced response scenarios for different types of fires. We are establishing risk and facility management, as well as safety and infrastructure management systems using AI, and expanding vehicle maintenance within the limits that do not inconvenience users in order to minimize breakdowns and prevent accidents."

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