A four-minute restroom break taken by a train operator caused delays across Seoul Subway Line 2, South Korea’s busiest subway route, on the morning of November 26. The operator stopped the train at a station around 8 a.m. and used a restroom located on a different floor, resulting in a 4-minute, 16-second absence from duty.
To maintain regular train intervals, all subsequent trains were halted temporarily, leading to delays for over 125 trains, with some running up to 20 minutes late. Despite the disruption, passengers reported minimal inconvenience, as they were able to board the next available trains.
Seoul Metro, the city’s subway operator, clarified that the trains continued operating on schedule after the brief interruption. A spokesperson noted, “Passengers experienced no significant delays or disruptions to their journeys.”
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This incident coincides with growing unrest among South Korea’s public transport workers. Strikes organized by the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) since early November have disrupted transit schedules. Workers are demanding a 5% wage increase, better working conditions, and additional staffing.
KORAIL union members plan to escalate their efforts with an indefinite strike starting December 5, followed by simultaneous walkouts by other public sector workers. The ongoing unrest has already caused subway punctuality rates to drop from 100% to 96%, with delays frequently exceeding five minutes on multiple lines.
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