Subway train runs 200 meters backward

By Kim Tae-jong

Metropolitan subway operators are drawing fire for allowing a subway train with hundreds of passengers onboard to reverse about 200 meters upon a complaint from a passenger who missed a stop.

The incident took place at 3:45 p.m. Sunday when a train on line 7 was on its way to Junggye Station, shortly after departing from Hagye Station, according to the Seoul Metropolitan Rapid Transit Corporation (SMRTC) in charge of the operation of lines 5 to 8.

The engineer suddenly drove the train backwards to the previous station as a passenger made a complaint through an emergency call, claiming he couldn’t get off because the door didn’t open.

The train reversed some 200 meters with only a short announcement, leaving other passengers unaware of what was happening. About 700 passengers were onboard. The incident also led to some three minute delays to the operation of other trains.

According to the SMRTC, a man in his 60s or 70s verbally assaulted the engineer and threatened to file a damage suit against him, and the engineer in panic decided to drive the train to the previous station after receiving approval from the control center.

The SMRTC initially said they had no plan to punish the engineer or officers from the control center because they did not violate any regulations.

However, with the mounting criticism, the SMRTC is now investigating the incident to confirm whether it was a necessary step or an overreaction.