Cheongdo Train Accident Responsibility, Han Moon-hee Decides to Resign as CEO of Korail
Han Moon-hee, the CEO of Korea Railroad Corporation (Korail), has expressed his intention to resign, taking responsibility for the Mugunghwa train accident that occurred in Cheongdo County, Gyeongbuk Province.
According to CBS No Cut News, Han stated his sense of responsibility regarding the accident on the 20th and is reported to hold his farewell ceremony on the afternoon of the 21st.
Korail explained that a fatal accident occurred on the 19th at around 10:50 AM when Mugunghwa train No. 1903, operating on the Gyeongbu Line between Namseonghyeon and Cheongdo Station, collided with workers who were present for a safety inspection of the hillside in a disaster-affected area.
The fatal accident resulted in the deaths of two individuals and injuries to five others. Of the seven workers involved in the accident, one was a Korail employee, while the other six were confirmed to be from a subcontractor specializing in structural safety inspections.
Repetitive Railway Safety Accidents and Controversies Over Responsibility
Since the inauguration of the Yoon Suk-yeol government, Han Moon-hee, who took office as the head of Korail in July 2023, has emphasized "safety first and comprehensive innovation" since his initial days in office.
Shortly after taking office, he visited the site of heavy rain damage on the Chungbuk Line, where the roadbed was washed away due to heavy rain, demonstrating his commitment to safety management.
However, railway safety accidents continued to occur during his tenure. In August of the previous year, an accident at Guro Station in Seoul involved a collision between two vehicles during early morning work, resulting in two deaths and one injury.
At that time, Han's comments suggesting that the responsibility for the accident lay with the deceased employees provoked strong backlash from the victims' families. Although Korail clarified that there was a misunderstanding during the consolation process, the controversy did not easily subside.
Meanwhile, Minister of Employment and Labor Kim Young-hoon, a former train operator, expressed his apology during a full meeting of the National Assembly's Environment and Labor Committee on the 20th, stating, "While I have worked in various ways for a safe workplace, I am deeply sorry to the public for failing to prevent the railroad accident the day before."
The Ministry of Labor announced plans to establish a dedicated investigative team composed of 15 members to rigorously investigate whether the accident violated the Industrial Safety and Health Act and the Serious Accidents Punishment Act.
Image Source: At around 10:55 AM on the 19th, the Mugunghwa train traveling through Hwayang-eup, Cheongdo County, collided with workers near the tracks, resulting in two deaths and five injuries. / Provided by Gyeongbuk Fire Service, Han Moon-hee, CEO of Korea Railroad Corporation / News1
