World · East Asia & Pacific · 1 hr ago
South Korea flags late-night KTX trains for extra safety monitoring
South Korea’s rail operator, Korail, has identified 48 trains as vulnerable to onboard incidents, using staff feedback and reports of illegal acts.
Thirty-two of those trains, or 67%, run between 10 p.m.
and 6 a.m.
Reports most often cited disruptive behavior by intoxicated passengers, followed by fare evasion.
Four trains are under special monitoring, including late-night KTX services from Seoul to Dongdaegu and Daejeon.
From 2021 through June 2026, authorities recorded 15,177 railway crimes, with sexual offenses and violence the most common categories.
Lawmaker Hwang Hee said railway crime had risen by more than 40% in five years and called for stronger patrols and better safety measures.
No new measures were announced; Hwang urged the transport ministry, railway police and Korail to strengthen patrols on vulnerable trains.
South Korea’s Korail has designated 48 trains as vulnerable to onboard incidents, including 32 that run at night.
Four trains are under special monitoring, with late-night passenger disturbance linked to two Seoul departures.
The designation considers crew feedback and the frequency of illegal acts, including drunken disturbances and assaults.
Railway crime totalled 15,177 cases from 2021 through June 2026, according to data cited by lawmaker Hwang Hee.
Hwang called for stronger patrols and effective safety measures on vulnerable trains.
- Who
- Korail designated the trains; lawmaker Hwang Hee called for stronger monitoring.
- What
- Korail identified 48 vulnerable trains, including 32 that run at night, for management and monitoring.
- When
- The figures were reported on October 13, 2026; crime data covers 2021 through June 2026.
- Where
- On South Korea’s rail network, including KTX routes.
- Why
- Crew feedback and the frequency of illegal acts, including drunken disturbances and assaults, informed the designations.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
South Korea recorded 15,177 railway crimes, according to data cited in the report.
Yonhap reported Korail’s vulnerable-train designations and Hwang’s call for stronger patrols.
- Vulnerable trains
- 48 designated by Korail
- Night trains
- 32 of the 48, or 67%, run between 22:00 and 06:00
- Special monitoring
- 4 train services
- Railway crimes
- 15,177 from 2021 through June 2026
- Most common reported reason for designation
- Drunken passengers, cited in 33 cases
What people are saying
Drunken disturbances and assaults continue on vulnerable trains designated by train crews and railway police, and railway crime has surged by more than 40% in the past five years.
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the railway special judicial police and Korail should strengthen regular patrols on vulnerable trains and build effective, fundamental safeguards to prevent crime inside enclosed trains.
Sources
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