Seoul: Railway accidents in South Korea left 137 people dead or injured over the past three years, government data showed Wednesday, raising concerns over the safety of one of the country's main modes of transportation.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the data submitted by the transport ministry to Rep. Moon Jin-seog of the ruling Democratic Party reveal that a total of 195 railway accidents occurred between 2022 and 2024, resulting in 68 deaths and 69 injuries. Property damage from these accidents was tallied at 5.85 billion won (US$4.2 million).
Rail traffic accidents, such as train collisions and derailments, accounted for 158 cases, or 81 percent of the total accidents. Despite a downward trend in the number of accidents and casualties over the past years, concerns persist, especially following a recent crash on the Gyeongbu Line in Cheongdo, North Gyeongsang Province, which resulted in two deaths and five injuries.
Rep. Moon Jin-seog emphasized the critical nature of railway safety, stating, "Railways are part of people's daily lives, and even a single accident can directly cost lives." He urged authorities to conduct thorough analyses of the causes and to significantly strengthen safety management systems.