South Korea Tightens Safety Rules for Private Railway Construction After Accidents

In response to a spate of serious accidents at private railway construction sites, the South Korean government has announced a comprehensive plan to bolster safety management. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport revealed its 'Strengthened Safety Management Plan for Private Railways' on April 26, aiming to prevent further incidents like the collapse at the Sinan-san Line construction site in December and the Bujeon-Masan double-track railway collapse in March 2020.

While private railways have been instrumental in expanding infrastructure to meet growing demand, they have unfortunately seen a higher frequency of major accidents compared to state-funded projects. The ministry attributes this to a focus on cost reduction and schedule acceleration, coupled with a passive approach to project management by relevant bodies. To address this, the government is implementing a multi-faceted approach across all project phases: planning, construction, and operation.

Key changes include a significant increase in the weight given to safety assessments during the selection of private operators, raising it from 10 to 50 points out of 1000. Qualification criteria for design firms will also be tightened, requiring more experience for lead engineers. Furthermore, the government will take the lead in construction supervision contracts, previously handled by private operators, to ensure greater independence for supervisors and prevent undue influence. Measures will also be introduced to prevent low-price subcontracting, aligning private projects with public sector standards.

From a Korean perspective, this move signifies a crucial shift towards prioritizing safety over speed and cost in infrastructure development. The government's commitment to taking a more active role, particularly in safety inspections and contract management, reflects a learning from past tragedies. This enhanced oversight is vital not only for the immediate safety of workers and the public but also for the long-term credibility and sustainability of private participation in national infrastructure projects. The ministry plans to enact relevant laws and guidelines in the first half of the year, signaling a determined effort to instill a robust safety culture.

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We will thoroughly manage private railways to the same standard as fiscal projects, acknowledging the painful lessons from the accidents that have occurred.