Following the merger of Korea Railroad (Korail) and SR, it has been revealed that Korail does not compile comprehensive statistics on all passenger accidents occurring on trains. Before the merger, SR managed all accidents regardless of liability, but Korail focuses only on incidents where the company is deemed responsible and insurance claims have been settled, prompting calls for improvements in accident management systems.
On October 13, Rep. Bae Seung-chan of the Democratic Party, a member of the National Assembly's Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee, reported that Korail assigns accident management to station masters or crew members on-site when incidents occur. The company lacks a centralized system for compiling comprehensive statistics on all train accidents.
In contrast, prior to the merger, SR managed all passenger accidents occurring on trains at the headquarters level. They implemented a six-step procedure for handling incidents, from initial response to post-incident management, utilizing various forms for accident notifications and investigation reports. These reports included sections for identifying causes and proposing preventive measures.
While Korail did not have a separate accident notification form before the merger, it has since created one. However, according to Rep. Bae's office, a dedicated form for drafting preventive measures based on accident causes has yet to be established.
The differences in data collection methods are reflected in the statistics. From 2024 to August of this year, SR recorded a total of 199 passenger accidents on trains, of which only 57, or 28.6%, were deemed the company's responsibility. This suggests that a significant number of actual train incidents may be excluded from the statistics if only liability cases are counted.
During the same period, Korail managed 191 passenger accidents classified as liability and insurance settled. This includes 83 incidents in 2024, 74 in 2025, and 34 from January to August this year. The locations of these incidents were 71 in passenger cars, 63 at doors, 32 in aisles, and 25 in restrooms, with types of accidents including 62 collisions, 46 falls, and 35 entrapments.
Korail and SR officially began their operational merger and high-speed rail integration on September 1. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport had previously stated that safety would be a top priority during the integration, pledging to enhance initial on-site inspections.
Korail has expressed that it faces practical limitations in managing all incidents, including minor accidents, often relying on customer statements regarding damages.
Rep. Bae emphasized, "The integration should not be merely superficial. It is essential to inherit effective systems and procedures from both organizations to ensure that safety management standards do not decline."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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