Seoul commuters face delays as railway workers begin protest

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Seoul commuters face delays as railway workers begin protest

Published: 18 Nov. 2024, 11:22 Updated: 18 Nov. 2024, 17:32

LEE SOO-JUNG
[email protected]

Passengers wait on a Line No. 1 platform at Seoul Station in central Seoul on Monday, when railway workers started to stage a labor slowdown or work-to-rule protest. [YONHAP]

Commuters in the greater Seoul area experienced travel disruptions on Monday morning as railway workers began a labor slowdown or work-to-rule protest, resulting in operational delays.

The Korea Railroad Corporation (Korail) said in a press release that the labor union’s action is impacting on-time subway operations in the metropolitan area and services on the Suinbundang Line, which connects Seoul and Incheon.

A total of 39 train services — Seoul subway lines No. 1, 3 and 4, Suinbundang Line, Gyeongui Jungang Line and Seohae Line — experienced delays of between five and 20 minutes as of 8 a.m., according to a report from Yonhap News Agency.

Korail also reported that 59 subway services have experienced delays of more than five minutes, and 46 train services for more than 10 minutes. Eight train services were delayed by more than 20 minutes.

An official from Korail told the Korea JoongAng Daily that Seoul subway line No. 1 and Gyeongui Jungang Line had experienced delays of around 10 minutes as of 11 a.m., and the railway operator stopped counting the number of delays after 11 a.m.

On the metro platform, an announcement was made every 10 minutes urging passengers to use alternative transportation, as some subway operations were delayed or operating on irregular schedules.

In the morning, Korail said high-speed trains such as the KTX were operating on time.

However, Korail added that high-speed train service on the Honam route, which connects Seoul and South Jeolla, experienced some delays at around 1:30 p.m. However, no other major delays were reported.

Korail informed passengers of possible changes to subway cars' final destinations or service stoppages to minimize inconveniences resulting from the labor action.

The subway and train operation status is available on the mobile application "Korail Subway Talk" or Korail’s official website.

On the same day, another labor union from Seoul Metro, which operates subway lines No.1 through 8, said 70.5 percent of 9,450 workers agreed to launch a strike in a vote that took place between Friday and Monday. An official from the union said the group would have casue to strike if Seoul Metro and the union failed to reach an agreement during an arbitration session convened on Monday afternoon. The union plans to host a press conference and announce its detailed plans for a strike on Tuesday morning in front of Seoul City Hall in central Seoul.

UPDATE, Nov. 18: Added details of Seoul Metro's strike.
UPDATE, Nov. 18: Added details of subway and high-speed train service delays.

BY LEE SOO-JUNG [[email protected]]