During the first national audit of the Korea Railroad Corporation (KORAIL) following the integration of KTX and SRT, key issues emerged regarding the effectiveness of the integration, rail safety, and the ticket reservation system. KORAIL emphasized improvements in seat supply and passenger convenience due to the integration, but lawmakers called for a thorough review of operational capabilities, including the verification of the integration process and recurring rail accidents.
On October 13, the National Assembly's Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee conducted the audit, which included KORAIL and other public rail agencies.
KORAIL President Kim Tae-seung highlighted the benefits of the high-speed rail integration in his report, stating, "This year marks a significant milestone with the unification of high-speed rail, allowing the public to use more trains at lower fares." According to KORAIL, the average daily seat supply has increased by approximately 16,000 since the integration, and ridership has also risen. The company plans to further expand seat availability with the upcoming launch of KTX services from Incheon and Suwon, along with the introduction of new high-speed trains.
However, lawmakers questioned whether sufficient verification of the integration process had taken place, particularly regarding the objective assessment and research during the 13-year competition between KTX and SRT. Concerns were raised about the sustainability of fare reductions and seat expansion benefits.
In response, Kim stated, "The discussions around integration were simplified, allowing for quicker problem resolution. KORAIL will continue to enhance public benefits and contribute to the development of the rail industry."
Rail safety was another major issue during the morning session of the audit. Following the employee death at Uiwang Station in August and other recurring accidents, there were calls for improvements in KORAIL's safety management system.
Kim acknowledged the seriousness of the Uiwang Station incident, stating, "We take this accident very seriously and will strengthen our safety management system to prevent recurrence." KORAIL plans to establish an integrated safety management platform utilizing artificial intelligence and expand the use of AI and robotics in vehicle and facility maintenance. The goal is to shift from reactive measures to a proactive safety management system that anticipates risks.
Concerns about fare evasion during holiday periods were also raised, as passengers boarding without tickets could lead to overcrowding and safety risks. Kim admitted that fare evasion management is not being handled effectively, stating, "We have not been able to adequately prevent fare evasion during peak demand periods, despite imposing additional charges. We will develop fundamental measures to address this issue."
Repeated inconveniences for passengers during the ticket reservation process were also highlighted. KORAIL had planned to invest 4.631 billion won to improve the capacity of its reservation system by 50% to address access issues during holiday ticket sales. However, the project was halted in May after it was discovered that existing equipment and new CPUs could not operate together. During this year's Chuseok ticket sales, some users reported wait times of up to 149 minutes, raising concerns about the lack of effective system improvements.
Lawmakers criticized the lack of basic technical reviews, such as equipment compatibility, despite the significant investment in the project, and called for fundamental solutions to the recurring access delays during holidays.
Additionally, allegations of favoritism towards specific companies arose regarding the operation of KORAIL's integrated application, 'KORAIL+'. The issue centered on the 'pre-order coffee and bread' service, which primarily involved SPC-affiliated brands like Paris Baguette and Dunkin'. Internal documents revealed that KORAIL had discussions with SPC about the service before the public announcement for business participation. It was noted that only one SPC affiliate participated in the actual business bidding.
Critics argued that the requirement for participants to have their own ordering systems effectively excluded small businesses and local vendors. There were also concerns that a public transportation platform should not serve as a sales channel for specific companies.
In response, Kim stated, "We will review the entire process of business applications and selections, and if any issues are confirmed, we will reconsider the agreements and operational methods."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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