Zero casualties and millions of dollars in savings. Seoul boasts about its subway

The installation of glass doors and platform walls at Seoul subway stations helped reduce the number of fatal accidents to zero last year, Yonhap news agency reported on Friday. Before this solution was introduced, on average over 37 people died on the tracks each year. Air quality has also improved.

According to data from Seoul City Hall, in the years 2001–2009, an average of 37.1 people died on platforms per year. After installing special shields in the period 2010–2024, the annual average dropped to just 0.4.

The installation of the covers began in 2006. Seoul President Oh Se Hun pushed for all stations to be secured at once, arguing that in terms of security, “99 percent is as good as 0 percent.” Three years later, the system was already operational at all 262 stations of the eight main lines. This was then extended to another line and light rail, bringing the number of secured stations to 345.

The city authorities emphasize that will “continue to advance policies that put people's safety first.”

The investment brought additional benefits to the city. A decrease in the concentration of harmful dust by approximately 20% was recorded. and noise by almost 8%. Additionally, tighter tunnel insulation reduced daily air conditioning bills by 30 percent, generating annual savings of 16.7 billion won. ($11.25 million).

Yonhap recalls that the reliability of the Seoul system drew attention after high-profile incidents in the New York subway, where attackers pushed passengers onto the tracks.

The Seoul authorities are already investing in further facilities to improve safety, including: automatically extending platforms that eliminate the gap between the train and the platform and bright LED warning lighting.

Krzysztof Pawliszak (PAP)

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