[Korean News] U.S. Sees Surge in "Random Subway Pushing" Crimes, Seoul Subway's "Screen Doors" Back in the Spotlight.

Recently, the rise in random "subway pushing" crimes in the U.S. has shocked the public. This phenomenon has simultaneously highlighted the importance of platform screen doors, which are a standard feature in many countries.

<Platform screen doors at Seoul subway platforms>

Seoul was the first city in South Korea to implement platform screen doors across its subway system.

Between 2006 and 2009, Seoul installed platform screen doors at all 262 stations on subway lines 1 through 8, completing the project about a year ahead of the original 2010 target. Currently, a total of 345 stations, including Line 9 and the Ui-Sinseol Line, are equipped with these doors.

According to the Seoul Metropolitan Government, the annual average number of subway fatalities dropped significantly from 37.1 between 2001 and 2009 to just 0.4 (ranging from 0 to 2) after 2010.

<Seoul subway stations before the installation of platform screen doors, 2001–2009>

The doors have also contributed to a decrease in pollutants and fine dust on the tracks, with concentrations falling from 106.7㎍/㎥ to 86.5㎍/㎥, a 20% reduction.

Noise levels dropped by 7.9%, from 78.3㏈ to 72.1㏈, and air conditioning efficiency improved by 30%, cutting electricity costs from 600 million won to 425 million won per day during summer, saving about 16.7 billion won annually.

<Foldable automatic safety steps>

To prevent accidents on curved platforms where gaps between the train and the platform are wider, Seoul began installing foldable automatic safety steps last year.

So far, these have been installed at 263 points across 22 stations on lines 1 through 8, with plans to install them at 326 points across 52 more stations this year.

For the 67 stations where installing these steps is difficult, high-intensity LED warning lights will be used to alert passengers to the potential danger.

<Tourists experiencing Seoul through the subway>

Additionally, TripAdvisor, the world's largest travel information site, has listed riding the subway as one of the must-try experiences for tourists visiting South Korea.

The director of Seoul's Transportation Bureau stated, "Seoul Subway is continuously making efforts to enhance the safety and convenience of citizens by managing congestion and improving air quality." He also mentioned that they will continue to ensure high ratings from foreign tourists visiting Seoul.

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