The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport will assess the overall training status of high-speed rail operators and review crowd management and security measures in preparation for the Chuseok holiday.
On September 17, the ministry announced that it will hold a "High-Speed Rail Safety Management Meeting" at Suseo Station on September 18.
The ministry has conducted three training programs for train operators as part of the integration of high-speed rail services and has reviewed the overall safety management system. This meeting aims to evaluate the performance and compliance of Korea Railroad Corporation (KORAIL) following on-site inspections.
First, the meeting will check the status of securing high-speed rail operators in relation to the increased number of train services resulting from the integration, as well as the training of experienced operators to ensure driving expertise.
It will also review improvements to training programs for crew members in case of unusual situations, as well as the implementation of necessary enhancements for vehicles, facilities, signals, and communications.
During the Chuseok holiday period (September 23-27), the ministry plans to examine measures to strengthen security management against crowd congestion and railway crimes due to the expected increase in rail passengers.
Additional safety personnel from KORAIL will be deployed at major stations such as Seoul, Suseo, and Busan, where congestion is anticipated. The ministry will also review measures to maintain order within the stations, including separating passenger flow during boarding and alighting.
To address concerns about crimes such as theft and sexual harassment in vulnerable areas (like escalators and transfer corridors), additional railway police will be stationed. The ministry will also assess a monitoring system using AI CCTV to cover blind spots that cannot be managed by on-site personnel alone.
Cho Sung-kyun, Director of Railway Safety Policy at the Ministry of Land, stated, "For the integration of high-speed rail to translate into tangible benefits for the public, safety must be firmly supported. The ministry plans to regularly check KORAIL's progress in establishing a system that ensures the expertise of railway personnel (train operators and crew members)."
He added, "KORAIL should be fully prepared for crowd management and transportation measures during the Chuseok holiday, which will be the first major holiday since the integration."
Meanwhile, KORAIL and SR officially merged on September 1, unifying the SRT brand under KTX, allowing for cross and combined operations between Seoul Station and Suseo Station without distinction between starting and ending points.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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