Minister Kim Yun-duk of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said on the 14th, "From a rail user's standpoint, whether it is KORAIL or SR does not matter," adding, "For the operational integration of KTX and SRT, as well as in future discussions on integrating the organizations, the top standard must be public convenience and service quality."
The Minister stated accordingly at a work briefing by agencies under the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (Part 3: livelihood and safety) held at the Government Complex Sejong that day, saying, "Rail operations are basic infrastructure that must function so that public mobility is not interrupted." The Minister emphasized that when trains are delayed or disruptions occur, the entire range of user-facing services—response systems, customer guidance, refund and compensation procedures, and on-site authority—must be improved together.
On expressway operations, the Minister said, "Service areas are spaces where the public evaluates price, quality and service immediately," adding, "If criticism that they are expensive and inconvenient keeps recurring, it is a signal to review not an individual issue but the overall operational structure." The point is that the service area operating system, including contract methods and criteria for evaluation and exit, needs to be overhauled to meet public expectations.
The Minister also called for improvements across road management. The Minister said, "Managing construction sections, providing congestion information, and responding to unexpected situations are all areas the public feels directly," adding, "On-site systems must be overhauled more swiftly." In particular, the Minister noted that although the risk of road-icing accidents was pointed out during the presidential work briefing in Dec. last year, a fatal accident occurred in less than a month afterward, and said, "We must closely examine whether there are structural problems and scrutinize them strictly."
On aviation safety, the Minister emphasized, "In the aviation sector, a single small gap can lead to a major disaster," and "We must not forget that airports are the front line of safety and the face of the nation." The Minister explained that not only airport facility improvements but also operations, security, and passenger services must be examined as one system.
Referring to the Jeju Air passenger plane disaster at Muan Airport on Dec. 29, the Minister said, "We will continue to communicate with the bereaved families, who are suffering great pain, to the end and responsibly provide the necessary support."