Minister Kim Young-hoon of the Ministry of Employment and Labor said regarding the tragic train accident in Cheongdo, Gyeongbuk, in which workers died, that "a strict investigation is underway against the Korea Railroad Corporation (KORAIL)," adding that "the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, which is the superior body of KORAIL, is not the management responsible under the Serious Accident Punishment Act."
During a plenary session of the Environment and Labor Committee at the National Assembly on the morning of the 20th, Kim responded to a question from People Power Party lawmaker Jo Ji-yeon, asking, "If the president is directing stringent punishments for private corporations, will the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport also be subject to investigation?"
He noted, "The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport is a supervisory agency, and therefore I think the Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport is not the management responsible," adding that "applying the same responsibility structure to national agencies as to private institutions' subcontracting relationships is difficult."
Nonetheless, he stated, "We are currently controlling the area near the tracks from Jikjisa Temple in Gimcheon, Gyeongbuk, to Miryang in Gyeongnam, and all routine maintenance tasks have been halted," and added that "this is the first time that we have expanded and implemented the work stoppage rights in this manner." He continued, "We will take stronger actions in the public sector in accordance with the same standards as for private corporations."
Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker Park Hong-bae asserted that "the current president of KORAIL, Han Moon-hee, who was appointed by former President Yoon Suk-yeol, should submit his resignation." In response, Minister Kim stated, "While I am not the supervising minister, we will conduct a strict investigation into any violations of the Industrial Safety and Health Act and the Serious Accident Punishment Act."
Minister Kim apologized again for the train accident. He expressed, "I have made every effort to ensure a safe workplace, but I feel deeply sorry and mournful for not being able to prevent the train accident yesterday. I wish to offer my condolences to the bereaved families and will pray for the quick recovery of the victims."
Meanwhile, around 10:50 a.m. on the 19th, an accident occurred in which seven workers who were working near the Gyeongbu line in Cheongdo County, Gyeongbuk, were hit by a Mugunghwa train. Two of them were transported to the hospital in cardiac arrest but did not survive. Among the other workers, four were severely injured, and one sustained minor injuries.