20-12-2023 (SEOUL) A dramatic scene unfolded at Gwangmyeong Station in Gyeonggi province when a man, who had missed his train, was captured on video clinging to the departing bullet train. The viral footage, posted on YouTube by user Bugae1, depicts the foreigner’s daring act and the subsequent consequences.
The incident occurred last Friday (Dec 15), as reported by The Korea Herald. In the video, a train station employee can be seen sprinting alongside the man, shouting at him to disembark in Korean. However, the man, seemingly unfazed, refused to let go, retorting in English, “You saw me opening the door! Why didn’t you stop it (the train)?” He asserted that he possessed a valid ticket and requested the staff to open the door for him to board.
Eventually, the train was brought to a halt, and the man disembarked, walking away with the station employee in pursuit, according to The Korea Times.
The employee explained to the man, “I announced several times that the doors were closing, and to board the train.” The incident caused a temporary disruption to the station’s operations, as reported by The Korea Herald.
Subsequently, the passenger was permitted to board the same train and alighted at Gwangju Songjeong Station. However, he faced consequences for his risky behavior as he was handed over to train police and fined for violating train safety rules.
An official from Korail, the company operating the train, emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating, “The passenger appeared to have arrived at the train station late. But, we can’t wait for every single passenger. What he did was extremely dangerous.”
South Korea’s Railway Safety Act explicitly prohibits actions that could impede train operations without just cause. Offenders can face fines of up to 5 million won (approximately S$5,100).
