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This is the fifth time this month that subway service has been disrupted.

As it is a problem directly related to people's safety, it is necessary to thoroughly check whether this is due to the weather or a problem with the equipment or system.



Reporter Kim Ji-wook pointed out.



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Today (23rd), the fire that caused the suspension of Line 3 occurred in a high-tension cable buried under the track.



It is a cable that has been buried for 13 years, but it is not known exactly what caused the fire.



However, it is only estimated that the temperature dropped rapidly amid dry weather, making it vulnerable to short circuits.



[Seoul Transportation Corporation official: When the weather is too cold in winter, many problems arise.]



From the train on Line 1 stopped on the Han River railroad bridge on the 15th, to the fire on Line 3 today, subway service has been disrupted due to various problems only this month. I've already had five setbacks.



Experts point out that there may be meteorological factors such as heavy snow and cold waves, but fundamentally, the lack of pre-inspection and the slow improvement of old facilities are the biggest causes.



[Yoo Jeong-hoon/Professor of Transportation System Engineering, Ajou University: The replacement of old facilities, which was necessary at the right time, was not done properly.

As safety inspections and manpower input necessary for safety inspections are relatively alienated...

.]



In fact, in the case of the Gimpo Gold Line, a problem arose when the current collector was exposed as it was even when heavy snow was predicted, and in the case of the Line 7 accident yesterday, an old train with more than 20 years of use was the problem.



Seoul Transportation Corporation announced earlier this year that it would greatly improve old trains and electrical facilities, but the speed is slow.



Old trains subject to replacement amount to 1,700 cars, which is about half of all trains.



If pre-inspection and facility improvement are neglected because of the chronic deficit of 1 trillion won every year, the safety of citizens will continue to be threatened.



(Video coverage: Jang Un-seok · Kim Seung-tae, video editing: Yoon Tae-ho)