▲ In this file photo, police officers examine a site near the tracks of the Seoul-Busan railway in Cheongdo, North Gyeongsang Province, southeastern South Korea, on Aug. 19, 2025, after a Mugunghwa train hit seven workers inspecting structures on a slope near the tracks. The accident left two workers dead and four others seriously hurt. (Yonhap)

rail accidents-tally

Rail accidents cause 137 casualties in S. Korea over past 3 years

SEOUL, Sept. 24 (Yonhap) -- Railway accidents in South Korea left 137 people dead or injured over the past three years, government data showed Wednesday, raising concerns over the safety of one of the country's main modes of transportation.

According to the data submitted by the transport ministry to Rep. Moon Jin-seog of the ruling Democratic Party, a total of 195 railway accidents occurred between 2022 and 2024, resulting in 68 deaths and 69 injuries.

Property damage from the accidents was tallied at 5.85 billion won (US$4.2 million).

Rail traffic accidents, such as train collisions and derailments, accounted for 158 cases, or 81 percent of the total.

Although the number of accidents and casualties have shown a downward trend in the past years, concerns remain following a crash on the Gyeongbu Line in Cheongdo, North Gyeongsang Province, last month that killed two people and injured five others.

"Railways are part of people's daily lives, and even a single accident can directly cost lives," Moon said. "Authorities must conduct thorough analyses of the causes and radically strengthen safety management systems."

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