The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
  • World Expo 2030
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
  • Hangzhou Asian Games
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
  • World Expo 2030
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
  • Hangzhou Asian Games
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
  • Login
  • Register
  • Login
  • Register
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
  • 1

    INTERVIEWAhn Hyo-seop wanted to share dedicated love with 'A Time Called You'

  • 3

    PHOTOSTeam Korea' s decisive moments at Asian Games

  • 5

    Seoul's financial assistance for egg freezing draws attention from single women

  • 7

    Korea wins gold, silver in men's golf

  • 9

    Expressway congestion partially eases up as Koreans return home following Chuseok

  • 11

    Police launch belated probe into another teacher's suicide after parental harassment

  • 13

    Korea's drop in exports eases in Sept. on chip sales recovery

  • 15

    Germany's government and Elon Musk spar on X over migrant rescue ships

  • 17

    M+ deputy director discusses Seoul's potential to challenge Hong Kong as Asia's art hub

  • 19

    SHINee launches first Japan tour in 5 years

  • 2

    Korea blank China to reach men's football semifinals

  • 4

    Will blue crabs from Italy arrive on Korean dining tables?

  • 6

    Korea wins 1st gold in women's team badminton in nearly 30 yrs

  • 8

    Over 30,000 protesters march for climate actions

  • 10

    KOICA pushes for $1.8 mil. project to support Nigeria's ICT education

  • 12

    Distraught roller skater apologizes for costly premature celebration

  • 14

    Korea makes last-ditch bid to host World Expo 2030 in Busan

  • 16

    On the brink of a government shutdown, Senate tries to approve funding but it's almost too late

  • 18

    Heavy traffic jams mostly eased on 5th day of holiday

  • 20

    S. Korea wins 1st table tennis gold in 21 yrs

Close scrollclosebutton

Close for 24 hours

Open
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
  • World Expo 2030
Tue, October 3, 2023 | 16:13
Companies
5G equipment feared to cause subway screen door malfunctions
Posted : 2022-09-25 16:50
Updated : 2022-09-26 13:27
Baek Byung-yeul
Print PreviewPrint Preview
Font Size UpFont Size Up
Font Size DownFont Size Down
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • kakaolink
  • whatsapp
  • reddit
  • mailto
  • link
Passengers wait for a subway train at Jamsil Station on Line 2 in Seoul, May 13, 2020. Korea Times file
Passengers wait for a subway train at Jamsil Station on Line 2 in Seoul, May 13, 2020. Korea Times file

By Baek Byung-yeul

The high output of 5G relay base stations is found to have caused frequent malfunctions of sensors on subway screen doors that detect obstacles, threatening the safety of passengers, a lawmaker warned Sunday.

Kim Young-joo, a lawmaker with the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) and a member of the National Assembly's Science, ICT, Broadcasting and Communications Committee, said the 5G relay base stations installed in subway platforms by SK Telecom, KT and LG Uplus have caused the detection sensors of screen doors to malfunction.

Since the country commercialized 5G network services in 2019, the three telecommunications companies have installed relay base stations in order to let their customers use network services inside the subway station platforms and trains.

Screen doors are physical barriers that open and close automatically to ensure the safety of passengers as trains approach station platforms. According to state-run Korea Railroad Corporation (KORAIL), 99.7 percent of subway stations have installed the barriers nationwide.

After analyzing data received from KORAIL, the lawmaker said malfunctions caused by the 5G relay base stations occurred at 30 out of 38 subway stations in Seoul from June 2020 to August 2022.

KORAIL concluded that the cause of the problem of the screen doors was the high output of the 5G relay base stations and continuously requested the mobile carriers to fix the problem, because such malfunctions could lead to a fatal accident. In 2021, a passenger was trapped between the screen door and the train at Mangu Station on the Gyeongui-Jungang Line in Seoul.

Passengers wait for a subway train at Jamsil Station on Line 2 in Seoul, May 13, 2020. Korea Times file
Subway passengers at Jamsil Station on Line 2 in Seoul, May 24, 2021. Yonhap

The lawmaker added that KORAIL asked the three telecommunications companies to cut off power to all 5G relay base stations at the stations in January. In response, SK, KT and LG conducted investigations with Korea Radio Promotion Association (RAPA) and concluded in April that the high output of the base stations was the factor that caused the malfunction.

According to regulations, the output of the base stations cannot exceed 5 volts. But those 5G relay base stations have maintained theirs power output at 24 volts, which is about five times more than the standard.

Although it turned out that the high output of their machines were behind the malfunctions, the lawmaker pointed out that the three mobile carriers did not take proper actions, because they only adjusted the location and height of the equipment, instead of lowering the power output.

As the malfunctions continued, KORAIL asked the mobile carriers to block the output of all 5G relay base stations installed at subway stations on Sept. 19.

"It is regrettable that the three mobile carriers have been trying to maintain 5G service quality while ignoring the safety and lives of passengers," the lawmaker said. "For public safety, the companies should immediately come up with measures to lower the output of the devices or replace them with new ones in cooperation with the related government institutions."

Regarding the issue, an official from a telecommunications company here said it is closely working with the government and KORAIL to address the issue.

"Due to sensor malfunctions, three telecommunications companies have been blocking the output of some 5G relay base stations since this year. To this end, the three companies are actively cooperating with the Ministry of Science and ICT and KORAIL," a spokesman for a mobile carrier said on condition of anonymity.




Emailbaekby@koreatimes.co.kr Article ListMore articles by this reporter
 
miguel
wooribank
LG
Top 10 Stories
1Korea makes last-ditch bid to host World Expo 2030 in Busan Korea makes last-ditch bid to host World Expo 2030 in Busan
2LA-based photographer captures Koreatown unfazed by pandemic LA-based photographer captures Koreatown unfazed by pandemic
3Consumers to face higher prices for daily necessities after ChuseokConsumers to face higher prices for daily necessities after Chuseok
4[INTERVIEW] It is premature to revise ROK-US mutual defense treaty: veterans' group head INTERVIEWIt is premature to revise ROK-US mutual defense treaty: veterans' group head
5Samsung chief visits Middle East to explore new businessesSamsung chief visits Middle East to explore new businesses
6Internet-only banks outperform legacy lenders in labor productivityInternet-only banks outperform legacy lenders in labor productivity
7Genesis GV80 Coupe looks to compete with Mercedes-Benz, BMW Genesis GV80 Coupe looks to compete with Mercedes-Benz, BMW
830 out of 74 major financial firms lack female board member 30 out of 74 major financial firms lack female board member
9Hyundai, Kia to extend earnings rally on strengthening dollar, solid sales Hyundai, Kia to extend earnings rally on strengthening dollar, solid sales
10Korean shipbuilders seek lead over Chinese rivals in selling LNG carriers to Qatar Korean shipbuilders seek lead over Chinese rivals in selling LNG carriers to Qatar
Top 5 Entertainment News
1[INTERVIEW] Ahn Hyo-seop wanted to share dedicated love with 'A Time Called You' INTERVIEWAhn Hyo-seop wanted to share dedicated love with 'A Time Called You'
2'Dr. Cheon and Lost Talisman' tops Chuseok holiday box office 'Dr. Cheon and Lost Talisman' tops Chuseok holiday box office
3M+ deputy director discusses Seoul's potential to challenge Hong Kong as Asia's art hub M+ deputy director discusses Seoul's potential to challenge Hong Kong as Asia's art hub
4Trailblazing nonagenarian artist honored for redefining Korean fiber art Trailblazing nonagenarian artist honored for redefining Korean fiber art
5[INTERVIEW] With '30 Days,' Kang Ha-neul finds new level of comfort in acting INTERVIEWWith '30 Days,' Kang Ha-neul finds new level of comfort in acting
DARKROOM
  • Turkey-Syria earthquake

    Turkey-Syria earthquake

  • Nepal plane crash

    Nepal plane crash

  • Brazil capital uprising

    Brazil capital uprising

  • Happy New Year 2023

    Happy New Year 2023

  • World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

    World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

CEO & Publisher : Oh Young-jin
Digital News Email : webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr
Tel : 02-724-2114
Online newspaper registration No : 서울,아52844
Date of registration : 2020.02.05
Masthead : The Korea Times
Copyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.
  • About Us
  • Introduction
  • History
  • Contact Us
  • Products & Services
  • Subscribe
  • E-paper
  • RSS Service
  • Content Sales
  • Site Map
  • Policy
  • Code of Ethics
  • Ombudsman
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • Copyright Policy
  • Family Site
  • Hankook Ilbo
  • Dongwha Group