Korail holds forum to improve rail services for passengers with mobility needs

Korea Railroad Corporation (Korail) has launched a review of its metropolitan rail services to improve accessibility for passengers with mobility needs, including people with disabilities, pregnant women, those traveling with infants and foreign residents.

The state rail operator held a forum titled "Improving Mobility Convenience for Transportation-Vulnerable Passengers" at Yongsan Station on June 5, inviting representatives from the Korea Disabled People's Organizations, the Population and Health Welfare Association, and the Seoul Global Center.

Attendees examined current support services from the perspective of passengers with mobility needs, covering barrier-free ticketing machines, facilities such as nursing rooms and accessible restrooms, boarding and alighting assistance, and the mobile app "Korail Subway Talk."

They then reviewed a series of initiatives underway: a "one station, one route" plan to establish elevator-only paths from street level to platforms so passengers with mobility needs can travel without assistance; new station entrances at Sindorim and Guro stations to improve wheelchair access; station number signage designed to be easily readable by foreign passengers; and "Ansim Keeper" signs at priority seats for pregnant women to encourage other passengers to keep those seats vacant. Participants discussed improvement directions from a specialist perspective.

Korail plans to form a consultative body with the participating organizations, hold regular forums and conduct joint inspections of facilities and services to continue cooperation aimed at improving mobility for passengers with mobility needs.

Bae Jeong-yeol, head of Korail's Metropolitan Railway Division, said the company would "work closely with relevant organizations to create a safe and convenient rail environment for everyone and strengthen the public service character of our rail operations."