Seoul Metro Fined 240 Million Won for Failing to Report Four Incidents Over Two Years
MOLIT Railway Safety Administrative Measures Review Committee Approves Penalties
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said on Nov. 6 that its Railway Safety Administrative Measures Review Committee had decided to impose a fine of 240 million won on Seoul Metro for failing to comply with a corrective action order.
Seoul Metro failed to report a railway near-miss that posed a serious threat to railway safety and could have led to an accident. Earlier, in March and November 2024 and January 2025, accidents occurred in which trains passed stop signals without authorization and derailed. Seoul Metro was ordered to take corrective action to ensure such incidents were reported. However, in February 2026, despite a track switch being in an abnormal state, a signal operator illegally altered a circuit to display a proceed signal, causing a near-miss. Seoul Metro also failed to report this incident and was fined as a result.
MetroTech, Korea Railroad Corporation (KORAIL), Korea Rolling Stock Technical Corporation and Yujin Vehicle changed their maintenance organizations without authorization and then failed to obtain certification or report the changes. Certification is required when the number of maintenance personnel at a maintenance facility changes by more than 10%, while changes of 5% to 10% must be reported. MetroTech was fined 5 million won, and the other three companies were each fined 2.5 million won.
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The committee also decided on administrative measures against 35 railway workers who will face administrative fines for violating the Railway Safety Act, including by using mobile phones. Three will have their train operator licenses suspended, and 32 will receive warnings. The measures approved by the committee will be finalized after prior notice is given to those concerned and their final opinions are collected. “We will take strict action against violations of laws and regulations and continue to monitor and supervise the sector to prevent similar cases from recurring,” said Jo Seonggyun, Director General for Railway Safety Policy at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.
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