The Seoul Metropolitan Government said Monday it will operate a revamped emergency alert system in subways, in a move to toughen safety during train breakdowns and cyber terror threats.

Seoul Metro, which operates Subway Lines Nos. 1-4, will implement an on-air emergency alert announcement system that can still run during power failures. During blackouts, the center control system will air safety instructions to passengers inside the train as well as at the subway stations.


The alerts will also be operable inside underground subway tunnels, city officials said.

Seoul Metropolitan Rapid Transit Corp., which operates Subway Lines Nos. 5-8, will develop its own big data system -- SMRT Automatic Mechanical Big Data Analysis -- that makes use of Internet of Things technology -- Internet-connected devices -- to predict the life span of various pieces of equipment and track down mechanical errors on trains.

“The SAMBA system has already been rolled out on Subway Line No. 7. It will soon be applied to trains on Subway Line No. 5 in May,” an official from the SMRT told The Korea Herald.

Later this month, the two subway operators will join hands to launch a “zero-error” task force team to take actions to reduce the number of man-made train accidents.

“Seoul City will focus on strengthening safety at subways and responding immediately to possible accidents or cyber terror attacks at subway stations,” said Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon in a statement. 

In January, over 700 passengers were left stranded inside a Subway Line No. 4 train after service between Hansung University Station and Sungshin Women’s University Station broke down for an hour during the evening rush hour. 

Disruption on the line was attributed to a traction power fault, but no official emergency alert was announced to passengers who eventually forced open the train door and walked over 100 meters inside the underground subway tunnel to reach the nearest station. A total of 17 passengers were hurt during the evacuation in the dark, as they had inhaled smoke from the broken-down train.

By Kim Da-sol (ddd@heraldcorp.com)