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Last year, a series of railroad-related accidents led the government to come up with railroad safety measures to deploy skilled workers at stations and improve the shift work system.

To do this, it is essential to increase manpower, but it is pointed out that the number of KORAIL employees is decreasing, so it does not match.



This is Reporter Lee Hye-mi.



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There were three train derailment accidents last year, and four KORAIL employees lost their lives while working.



The reason for the sudden increase in railway accidents last year, which had been steadily decreasing for 10 years, was pointed out by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport as KORAIL's poor management of new personnel.



In fact, the engineer of the train that stopped on the Han River railway bridge at the end of last year had 5 months of experience, and the engineer who came to tow the stopped train was a new employee with just over a year.



The Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs decided to redeploy personnel so that new and experienced employees can work together at stations with heavy workloads, such as Obong Station, where the fatal accident occurred.



At the same time, we decided to revamp the work system, which currently operates in 4 teams and 2 shifts.



[Won Hee-ryong/Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (November of last year, general meeting of the Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee): Going from 3 teams of 2 shifts to 4 teams of 2 shifts reduces work hours, but safety problems may occur because the number of workers per unit hour decreases. ]



The problem is manpower.



Three years ago, the Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs conducted a research service for railroad safety management, and it was found that manpower needs to be recruited in the fields of vehicles, facilities, and electricity.



However, by 2025 due to the reduction of manpower in public institutions, the quota of Korail will decrease by about 700 people.



The government announced that it would not reduce the number of personnel in the safety sector, and that it would increase the utilization rate of equipment and promote a plan to divert personnel to the safety sector.



Regarding this, the railroad union said that they wanted to ask again what safety work is and what is not, and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport opposes that it will be enough if the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport replenishes the number of people suitable for 4 groups and 2 shifts.



(Video coverage: Shin Dong-hwan, video editing: Lee Sang-min, CG: Son Ho-seok)