Seoul Metro said on the 24th that it carried out a joint campaign to prevent drunken violence with the subway police unit, as incidents of intoxicated passengers verbally abusing or assaulting station employees have been recurring.
Over the past four years (2023–2026), there were a total of 492 cases in which Seoul Metro employees, after suffering verbal abuse or assault, filed criminal complaints or accusations. Of these, 63% (311 cases) occurred under the influence of alcohol. Seoul Metro said cases of harm caused by drunken violence were overwhelmingly higher than other types, such as order guidance (110 cases) or crackdowns on fare evasion (20 cases).
Seoul Metro emphasized in particular that drunken violence can cause disturbances and conflicts in stations, heightening anxiety among other riders, and can also make it difficult to respond quickly when emergencies occur.
Seoul Metro plans to continue taking a strict response to drunken violence and related offenses. Ma Hae-geun, head of the sales division at Seoul Metro, said, "Verbal abuse and assaults against station employees threaten the safety of other passengers, and we will apply a zero-tolerance policy when harm occurs," adding, "We ask for consideration and respect for the employees who quietly do their best on the ground to ensure a safe subway."