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Mugunghwa train derailment kills 1 in Yeosu

Posted April. 23, 2016 07:21,   

Updated April. 23, 2016 07:31

한국어

Train accidents have continued to happen in succession, with the head of state-run railway operator Korail remaining vacant. Critics say that the accidents result from sloppy management by its former CEOs, including Choi Yeon-hye who abruptly resigned last month to run for the April 13 general elections, with her term in office remaining more than six months.

Mugunghwa Train 1517 derailed while operating near Yulchon Station in Yeosu City in South Jeolla Province at 3:41 a.m. on the day. The engine locomotive was capsized, and four of the seven cars were derailed. The accident left the first engineer killed, and the second engineer injured and hospitalized at a nearby hospital. It is the first time that a train derailment caused death in Korea since 2003 when the country started compiling related accident statistics. The Land, Infrastructure and Transport Ministry judges that chances are high the second engineer who was operating the train over-speeded, as he failed to follow control instruction to reduce speed while changing the tracks.

According to the ministry, as many as five train accidents have occurred this year. On March 11, a freight train derailed near Shintanjin Station in Daejeon City, which caused suspension of 47 passenger and freight trains operating on Gyeongbu and Honam lines. On February 16, one facility maintenance car derailed from the track near Hayang Station in Gyeongsan City, North Gyeongsang Province, which caused suspension of train operation on Daegu Line for about 90 minutes. On February 18, a train door failed to close at the platform at Hoiryong Station on Seoul Subway Line 1 in Uijeongbu, Gyeonggi Province, causing passengers to change trains.

Experts single out appointment of Korail CEOs from politicians with no expertise in railway as a main cause of successive accidents. Thus far, most of the former Korail CEOs, other than first CEO Shin Gwang-soon, have been taken by non-experts. Second CEO Lee Chul (three-term lawmaker), third CEO Kang Kyung-ho (third, former member of Seoul Economic Forum, a group supporting former President Lee Myung-bak), fourth CEO Heo Joon-young (former chief of the National Police Agency), and fifth CEO Chung Chang-young (secretary general of the Board of Audit and Inspection) were all external figures. Critics say that all these Korail CEOs compromised with the labor union and put off reform of the state rail company.

Former Korail CEO Choi, who was somewhat recognized for her expertise, was inaugurated after unsuccessfully running for the 19th General Assembly in 2012. But she resigned last month, with her term remaining about six months, to run for a proportional representation seat in the parliament. As accidents, big and small, have occurred, Korail insiders would sarcastically criticize, saying, “Since the CEO has a different agenda, Korail can hardly run properly.”

Observers also criticize that the management focuses too much on short-term outcome. “Korail CEOs have been negligent about safety education and replacement of aged facilities, which can generate outcome only through long-term investment,” a government source said.



조은아 기자achim@donga.com · 여수=정승호기자 shjung@donga.com