Korean Job Discussion Forums

[wylies99]

Subway safety cause of concern
http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/NEWKHSITE/data/html_dir/2009/02/16/200902160006.asp

Safety concerns are surfacing after four people died in subway accidents in Seoul on Saturday.
The first incident occurred at 5:35 a.m. when a 38-year-old man identified only by his family name Kim threw himself into an oncoming full-speed subway train between Oksu and Eungbong stations, according to the police. The train was headed for Yongsan.

After Kim was pronounced dead, a man surnamed Kim, 71, who was going to the scene to collect the body for a nearby hospital, was hit by a train that was entering from the opposite direction. He was immediately pronounced dead.

"I yelled at him to keep an eye on the incoming train, but I don`t think Kim heard me," said Oh, 70, a fellow worker who was also at the location.

However, that wasn`t the end of the Valentine`s Day tragedies.

Another man identified only by his surname Lee, 33, fell onto the railway of a subway train at Line No. 2 City Hall Station around 1:16 p.m.

The man was moved to a nearby hospital, but he was reported to have died.

Police said the cause of the accident was yet to be verified but they are not ruling out the possibility of it merely being an accident, considering that the station was overcrowded at the time.

City Hall Station was found to be at risk for major safety accidents during morning and night-time rush hours in a government investigation conducted last May, prompting officials to install platform screen doors to enhance safety. However, the doors are still not in place.

The fourth accident happened at 2:43 p.m. when a man in his 50s jumped into an oncoming subway train at Line No. 4 Hansung University Station. He was found to be dead at the scene.

Kim Hyun-jin, a 30-year-old company employee, said it was shocking that four people died in a single day, especially after the recent spread of news about serial killer Kang Ho-soon.

"It makes me wonder how these events could occur and puts me in fear after learning the details," she said. "It`s a scary world we live in nowadays."

Noting that many subway stations still haven`t installed safety measures, such as platform screen doors, a 28-year-old company worker who wished to only be identified as Choi said this should be the first step for authorities to take.

"If the stations at least have their screen doors in place, I think we could prevent some of the suicide and safety malpractice cases from happening," Choi said.

Following such news, Seoul City yesterday said it will build platform screen doors in all 265 subway stations across the capital, except Cheongryangri Station, by the end of this year. Currently, 89 stations have installed screen doors.

By Cho Ji-hyun


([email protected])



2009.02.16

[Guri Guy]

[seoulsucker]

I have to ask, why on earth would two 70-year plus guys be sent to work on the tracks? Don't you think they could have used someone a bit more spry?

Poor vision: check
Bad hearing: check
Limited mobility: check

You're perfect for the job!

How about sending some of the young military service dodgers out there to clean up the mess?

[asylum seeker]

I think part of the explanation for these incidents is clear, sold in green bottles and begins with a 소.

[Guri Guy]

[drunkenfud]

Why does Cheongnyangni station not need suicide prevention screens?

[crosbystillsstash]

collecting a body at 70? And this culture respects its elders? How about STOPPING THE TRAINS FOR 10 MINUTES?

ahhh no, that would require initiative, or else someone being told to do it. in Korea the latter only is used. Plus it would have inconvenienced other Kimberleys. It's better just to get the old guy to bali bali.

[waltjocketty]

[roadwork]

[Jane]

This is beside the point, but since when do 'screen doors' not have screens? They are glass doors last time I checked.
But the SMRT probably found 'screen' more difficult to pronounce then 'glass' so went with screen.

Next to the sexual harrassment and manners information posters, they should erect one about suicide.

[crossmr]

[wylies99]

[sarbonn]

[KAMAKAZI]

and why do they call them "screen doors" ??

[crossmr]