This year's Chuseok train ticket reservation process saw maximum wait times increase to 149 minutes, up from 116 minutes last year. The Korea Railroad Corporation (Korail) has halted a 4.6 billion won infrastructure upgrade project for its reservation system due to technical compatibility issues.
On October 13, during a National Assembly audit of Korail by the Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee, lawmaker Jeong Hee-yong of the People Power Party pointed out that last year's ticket reservation system experienced a 'crash,' resulting in a maximum wait time of 116 minutes, which has now increased by 33 minutes this year.
According to Jeong, Korail initiated the infrastructure upgrade project for the reservation system in September of last year, aiming to increase processing capacity by 50% and reduce connection delays caused by server overload.
The project passed internal investment reviews, with all seven committee members approving the plan during a January meeting, and no deficiencies or additional requirements were noted. Following this, the project proceeded through preliminary disclosure and routine audits.
However, issues arose just before the project was set to be awarded. Jeong noted that during a technical meeting with Oracle Korea in April, it was discovered that the new generation CPUs could not be mixed with existing CPUs. It was confirmed that a complete replacement of existing equipment and a database reconstruction would be necessary, leading to the project's suspension in May.
Jeong criticized the lack of proper technical review before pursuing the project, stating that the eventual discovery of compatibility issues resulted in its cancellation, ultimately burdening the public with inconveniences during the ticket reservation process. He called for an investigation into the causes and accountability for the project, emphasizing that the delay and resulting public inconvenience were unacceptable. He requested a thorough analysis of the causes and a comprehensive plan for system reorganization to be submitted before the upcoming audit.
Korail President Kim Tae-seung acknowledged Jeong's concerns, stating, 'Your observations are entirely correct.' He added that the manufacturer initially indicated compatibility but later changed its position, and he committed to reviewing the causes and processes involved.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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