Sat Nov 30 06:49:06 UTC 2024: ## Seoul Subway Delays Spark Debate Over Worker Rights After Conductor’s Toilet Break
**SEOUL, South Korea** – A four-minute toilet break by a Seoul subway conductor on Monday morning triggered a ripple effect, causing delays for up to 125 trains and sparking a wider conversation about worker rights and labor conditions in South Korea.
The incident occurred around 8 am on Line 2, when the conductor made an unscheduled stop to use a restroom located several floors away from the platform. The 4-minute, 16-second absence resulted in a domino effect, delaying subsequent trains by up to 20 minutes. Seoul Metro reported that while service was disrupted, passengers ultimately reached their destinations with minimal inconvenience.
While Seoul Metro typically allows conductors on circular lines only two to three hours without a break, the lack of readily available facilities necessitates occasional excursions to distant restrooms. Although portable toilets are available for emergencies, their infrequent use highlights a potential infrastructure gap.
The incident quickly went viral, with social media users expressing concern about the stressful working conditions faced by train operators and calling for improved labor laws. Comments highlighted the need to balance punctuality with the basic needs of workers, criticized the “one-man system” of operation, and demanded better staffing to prevent future delays.
This incident comes ahead of a planned general strike next month by nearly 70,000 railway, subway, and education service workers affiliated with the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU). The strike aims to secure improved working conditions and address allegations of workplace discrimination, with KORAIL and Seoul Metro among the participating operators. The conductor’s toilet break has inadvertently become a microcosm of larger labor disputes within South Korea’s public transportation sector.
First Piper 