South Korea fines railway operator $400,000 over fatal train accident

South Korea's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport has imposed a fine of 540 million won (approximately $400,000) on the national railway operator, Korail, following a deadly accident in Cheongdo last August. The incident saw a Mugunghwa train collide with workers on the Gyeongbu Line, claiming the lives of two individuals and leaving five others seriously injured.

The Ministry's Railway Safety Administrative Disposition Review Committee decided on the fine, along with penalties for other accidents involving Korail and its affiliate SR. Korail faces a total of 1.02 billion won in fines for three separate incidents, while SR was fined 840 million won for two incidents.

In the Cheongdo accident, seven workers were inspecting facilities between Cheongdo and Namseonghyeon stations when they were struck by the train. Investigations revealed that the workers were not facing the approaching train and were in a hazardous situation where train operations were not controlled. Korail was found to have violated its own work regulations, which stipulate that workers should face the train and move along the outer side of the tracks when working in dangerous areas.

Another significant fine of 360 million won was levied against Korail for a separate incident in February, where a worker died after being caught by a work vehicle while inspecting it at Geundeok Station on the Donghae Line. Korail violated regulations concerning the creation of work plans and restrictions on track access in high-speed sections.

SR was fined 720 million won for a separate incident in October 2024, where a drive shaft detached from a train entering Cheonan-Asan Station, causing approximately 4.95 billion won in property damage. Both Korail and SR also received fines for violating procedures for 승인 (approval) of changes to their railway safety management systems.

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Violations of track work safety rules, illegal vehicle modifications, and unauthorized changes to the safety management system can directly lead to major railway accidents such as worker fatalities. We will take strict measures against violations of railway safety laws and establish preventive measures to prevent similar accidents from recurring.