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| Workers repair disconnected train tracks at Yeongdeungpo Station in southern Seoul, Monday, a day after a Mugunghwa train derailed there and injured 34 passengers, Sunday. Yonhap |
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| Korail CEO Na Hee-seung Korea Times file |
Land Minister Won Hee-ryong called for a fundamental and complete overhaul of Korea Railroad Corp. (KORAIL), the state-run rail operator, Monday, after a train had derailed late Sunday. The accident that caused injuries to at least 34 passengers came less than a day after a maintenance worker died while working, Nov. 5.
The series of accidents are fueling criticism of KORAIL CEO Na Hee-seung. He may become the first head of a state-run organization to be charged under a law, which subjects CEOs of large companies to a period of imprisonment of up to one year or fines of up to 1 billion won ($712,000) if fatal industrial accidents occur at their organization or its smaller partner firms. Na was questioned over the death of a rail worker in his 50s in Daejeon, March 14, according to the Ministry of Employment and Labor, Monday.
The rare and heated remarks of the land minister carry all the more weight since he is on a trip to Saudi Arabia to win overseas construction projects for Korean firms worth up to $50 billion every year through 2027.
"KORAIL has reported accidents after accidents," he said in an emergency meeting, according to the land ministry. "The state-run rail operator should undergo a complete overhaul. KORAIL must and will see to it that it minimizes customer inconvenience."
The comment followed injuries suffered by at least 34 passengers on a Mugunghwa train at 8:52 p.m., Sunday, as it was arriving at Yeongdeungpo Station in southern Seoul.
The train that had left central Seoul's Yongsan Station at 8:15 p.m. was bound for Iksan, North Jeolla Province, carrying 275 passengers.
Sunday's accident came only hours after a KORAIL worker in his 30s had been hit and killed by a train while connecting and separating train cars at Obong Station in Uiwang, Gyeonggi Province, Nov. 5.
The scene was reviewed immediately after the accident by a group of labor ministry officials. They will determine the cause of the accident and decide whether to seek criminal punishment for the CEO.
"We express our deepest regret over the accidents and condolences for the workers," a KORAIL official said. "We will map out strengthened safety measures to prevent the recurrence of accidents of this sort."
