Kim Yun-duk, Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, Attends High-Speed Rail Safety Pledge Ceremony: “Safety Must Always Be Kept in Mind”

[Financial News] Kim Yun-duk, Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, has emphasized safety for the unified KTX and SRT services.
Kim Yun-duk made the remarks while attending the Pledge Ceremony for Integrated High-Speed Rail Safety and Service Practices held at the Seoul Headquarters of Korea Railroad Corporation (KORAIL) on the 3rd.
Kim Yun-duk urged railway personnel to remain vigilant, saying, "We must once again keep in mind at the worksite that safety is always the foundation of railways." He added, "As this is a period in which the organization and operating systems are undergoing major changes through the integration of KORAIL and SR Corporation, I ask you to examine more thoroughly whether anything is being overlooked as duties change and whether any risks are being passed over because they are regarded as routine tasks."
He continued, "Services must also change in ways that passengers can feel." He added, "Please work to reduce inconveniences from ticket reservations and the use of stations and trains to connections with other modes of transportation, so that you can show the public how the unified railway has changed."
MOLIT and KORAIL are operating an early emergency response team during the initial phase of the integration. They hold daily safety meetings to manage pending issues thoroughly. At worksites, KORAIL's in-house safety instructors are conducting guidance and inspections, while trains are operating with onboard guidance by a train driver on sections with high operating difficulty.
Earlier, MOLIT carried out the integration of KORAIL and SR Corporation's high-speed rail operations the previous day. Existing KTX fares were reduced by an average of 10% to the level of SRT fares, and the service name was unified under KTX. The integration was achieved 10 years after SR Corporation was launched in 2016.

[email protected] Jung Kyung-soo Reporter