At the end of last year, the losses incurred by Korea Railroad Corporation (KORAIL) due to a strike by the National Railroad Workers' Union lasted for a week exceeded 18 billion won.
On the 9th, according to data submitted by KORAIL to People Power Party lawmaker Seo Beom-su, the damage estimated during the strike period from December 5 to 11 last year amounted to 18.32 billion won, with losses of about 2.6 billion won per day.
The transport loss due to the suspension of passenger trains accounted for the largest portion at 14.35 billion won, or 78.3%. The losses on the main rail lines, including the Gyeongbu Line and Honam Line, were 12.99 billion won, while the loss on metropolitan railways was 1.36 billion won. The transport loss due to disruptions in freight train operations was estimated at 3.02 billion won (16.5%). There were also expenses incurred for external personnel, including train drivers who replaced the striking workers (260 million won) and Vice Administrators (690 million won).
The estimated damage from the railroad union strike last year increased significantly compared to the estimate for the five-day strike that occurred in September 2023 (9.4 billion won). The duration of the strike was longer, and the overall train operation rate was at 71.1%, lower than the 73.6% during the previous strike.
During the week of last year's strike, metropolitan electric trains operated at 76.5%, KTX at 68.4%, and regular trains at 61.3%. Freight trains were particularly low, operating at only 25.1%, with only 261 out of the planned 1,039 trains running. Railroad cargo transport mainly consists of essential goods for various industries, including bulk cement, import and export containers, steel, and fuel for power generation (coal). However, there is a problem that the railroad transportation business is not included in the public utilities category, which requires maintaining certain personnel during strikes under the Labor Union Act and the Labor Relations Adjustment Act, resulting in significant damage.