▲ A bag left by a demised subway operator at work shows that he prepared himself to work for another shift by having instant cup noodles with tangerines, instead of going home.(Courtesy of the Seoul Metropolitan Rapid Transit Trade Union Subway Operators' Division)
A subway operator working in the Line 7 of the Seoul Metropolitan Rapid Transit Corporation was found lying motionless on the floor of the union branch office on January 28, the Lunar New Year and sent to the hospital, but he was pronounced dead at the hospital on February 1. He seemed to have a stroke.
He finished his afternoon shift on January 27, but he did not return home in order to work the next shift in the following day. He seemed to have chosen to stay at the union branch office nearby as he could not find a place to sleep in the company facility which had been fully occupied by others. In fact, he applied a leave on January 28, but his application was not granted as many leave applications had been submitted for the Lunar New Year's day by other workers.
The Line 7 is known to be the busiest line in Seoul with heavy work loads. A union officer of the Korean Public Service and Transport Workers' Union calls on the Seoul Metropolitan Government to take preventive measures to avoid subway operators from suicides and sudden deaths at work.
reported by Yoon Ja-eun
translated by Kim Sung-jin