(Seoul = News 1) Reporter Lee Seol = As the first snowfall in Seoul was recorded as the heaviest snowfall ever, citizens’ concerns about traffic chaos on their way to and from work are growing. In addition, there are predictions that congestion may increase as the ‘citizen’s foot’ railway and subway are engaged in a law compliance struggle (sabotage) ahead of a general strike next month.
According to the Korea Meteorological Administration on the 28th, an additional 3 to 8 cm (up to 10 cm or more) of snow is expected to fall on this day, following the previous day. There will be a general lull on Friday the 29th, but about 1cm of snow may fall.
The day before, the heaviest snow piled up in Seoul around 7 a.m., causing traffic chaos for citizens on their way to work. On Subway Line 9, there was a delay of about 7 to 8 minutes due to late train release. The inner and outer loop trains of Seoul Subway Line 2 and the Onsu line of Line 7 were also delayed by more than 20 minutes.
There were eyewitness accounts posted on various online communities and social networking services (SNS) that major subway stations, such as Yeouido Station and Gangnam Station, were overcrowded or trains were delayed.
Some point out that citizens were stranded due to ‘heavy snowfall’ after the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions’ Public Transport Workers’ Union, the Seoul Transportation Corporation Union (Union 1), and the Seoul Metro Line 9 Union began fighting for compliance last week.
The fight for compliance is a group action that refuses to work outside of regulations while complying with stopping times and safety regulations instead of the customary on-time operation. The railroad union began a struggle to comply with the law ahead of a strike on December 5th, and the Seoul Transportation Corporation and Seoul Metro Line 9 branches the next day, the 6th.
In relation to this, Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon posted on his Facebook page the day before, “The people who suffered the most from last week’s ‘subway sabotage struggle’ were citizens who live in the outskirts and have no choice but to use public transportation for long periods of time,” and added, “The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, which represents workers, He also criticized, “This is an attempt to hold back workers who are going through the most difficult times.”
However, the Seoul Transportation Corporation, which operates Seoul Subway Lines 1 to 8, believes that the delay during the compliance struggle is not significant. According to the corporation, the train punctuality rate was mostly maintained at 100%, except for the 20th and 25th, which recorded 96%. However, according to the Enforcement Rules of the Railway Safety Act, the standard for delayed operation is based on delays of more than 20 minutes.
An official from the Seoul Transportation Corporation said, “Because we have to maintain the required number of workers during commuting hours, it does not seem to have had a noticeable impact yet,” but added, “Due to the snowfall, we are also increasing the intensive commute time by 30 minutes.”
Meanwhile, the Seoul Transportation Corporation’s three unions, the so-called ‘MZ union’, also held a press conference in front of Seoul City Hall on this day and announced detailed plans for ‘industrial action’. The vote for and against the industrial action by the three unions was passed with 91.2% in favor, and mediation by the Seoul Regional Labor Relations Commission was subsequently suspended, allowing them to exercise their legal right to industrial action. The Seoul Transportation Corporation Integrated Union (2 unions) under the Federation of Korean Trade Unions plans to decide whether to go on strike through a vote next month.
Meanwhile, the city of Seoul provides detailed information, such as road control sections, at bus stop information terminals (BIT), electronic road signs (VMS), and the Topis website. You can quickly check the subway operation status on the Seoul Transportation Corporation’s Tota Subway app and social networking sites (SNS).
