Korean Job Discussion Forums

[wylies99]

Unending Tragedy at Subway Stations
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2008/09/117_31042.html

By Kang Shin-who
Staff Reporter

Tension runs high whenever train driver Yoo Chung-sik, 39, sees a train approaches a subway platform sidelined by a throng of passengers. It makes him shudder whenever he sees some mischievous children playing at jumping off the platform.

He is still suffering from the aftermath of a tragic experience of running over a man. In February 2005, an old man was slowly falling off the platform at Gangbyeon Station on the Subway Line 2. "The moment I saw him fall, I applied the brake and managed to pull up the train. But it was too late. I ran him over with a speed of 30 km/h and the man was stuck between the first and second wheel.''

Fortunately, the man survived, but left Yoo with traumatic memories. ``I cannot shake off the horrible moment. Right after the accident, I got out of the train but I couldn't look at the victim,'' he said.

Since then, Yoo has not been able to stand behind the wheels again. He now works as an office worker for Seoul Metro. ``I don't think I will be able to drive a train again. I couldn't put up with the tension whenever my train approaches a platform.''

Yoo is rather okay compared to other colleagues who experienced passengers' suicide attempts. Some drivers need to have psychiatric treatment for several months, according to the subway company.

``We give 3-5 day leaves to drivers who experienced suicide attempts. We know it's not enough for some drivers and are considering introducing rehabilitation programs to help such drivers overcome the aftermath,'' said Kim Jeong-hwan, a spokesman for Seoul Metro.

This year has already seen 16 commit suicides despite a growing number of screen doors at subway stations. According to Seoul Metro, about 200 have committed suicides at subway stations since 2003, which indicates that two persons ended their lives a month on average. Among them, More than 30 percent of the suicides took place the last two years.

Experts say that suicides in the railroads could shock and damage witnesses more than other kinds of suicides.

``Train drivers are the biggest victims of the deaths and other passengers around the tragedy spots often suffer from trauma as well,'' said Hong Chang-hee, psychology professor of Pusan National University.

``People attempt suicide at subway stations are more intentional to die and those who killed themselves in public places usually have strong complaints against the society and want to give some messages to others,'' Hong added.

The subway authorities hope screen doors being installed at stations will help prevent suicide attempts at platforms.

``We will set up more screen doors at subway stations and place more security staff,'' Kim of Seoul Metro said.

[email protected]

[ED209]

They're never going to reduce the suicides so might as well automate the trains. No reason to have drivers in the 21st century. Then some kind of scoop-a-commuter-bot can sweep it all away.

[yingwenlaoshi]

[Korussian]

The theory being that if you're depressed enough to commit suicide in a public place like a subway, then putting up screens at your favorite station will be disheartening enough to make you give up and go away? I like to think people are more industrious than that.

A better alternative is to put up signs that say "Thinking about jumping? Call us first: ###-####-####" and have an emergency help line with a guaranteed instantly available councilor. There should be a sign under that sign that says "if our councilors can't help, make sure you've filled out your organ donor card first".

[justaguy]

Seoul is a very crowded place.

You will see just about everything more that you would anywhere else.

[matthews_world]

They're doing a good job with the security fences.

Do you want thousands of jobs lost due to automation?

[Bibbitybop]

[sojourner1]

I noticed that Seoul had been installing these security dividers so you can't fall into the track or get hit. Now they just need to fix the air quality situation down in the deep underground labyrinth. It smells like asbestos disc break pads particulate.

Why so much depression and suicides? Maybe the economy is one tough cookie to crack, especially for young dudes.

On jobs, technology is making us too productive when producing a product and service so this means there are not enough jobs anywhere. For every decent paying skilled job, there's typically 100 qualified candidates jockeying for it; sometimes 100,000. I know in America we over produce educated, skilled, and well qualified people, but computers and downsizing have reduced the middle class management force that would employ most of these individuals. Suicide rates are increasing on account of financial failures.

[IncognitoHFX]

[bassexpander]

I was in a subway car coming up to my uni when a guy jumped in front of it last year. He died. The driver slammed on the breaks, but it was too late. We waited in the dark for a minute while they shouted across the radio. Then we inched forward slowly and were allowed to get off when we reached the next stop. The train pulled forward slowly to reveal the body laying between the tracks. Luckily, he wasn't all chopped up, or I would have been pretty shocked, along with everyone else.

[oskinny1]

[seoulsucker]

The movie Incognito is talking about is called "The Bridge" and you can find the whole thing on Google video. Here's the best clip from it. Not too graphic, but a bit shocking.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGDOMNiRuDs&feature=related

[jvalmer]

Just some extra information.
In Toronto they average about 1 jumper a month, in the subway stations. Half of them just get injured, but the other half wind up dead.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toronto_subway_and_RT

http://suicideandmentalhealthassociationinternational.org/stopsuitrain.html

I think the suicide barriers are a great idea. And you can also paste ads all over them.

[Adventurer]

[jajdude]

Just putting in those blockers helps a lot.