South Korea's rush hour delayed as 4-Minute toilet break affects 125 trains

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): On November 25 in Seoul, South Korea, 125 trains were delayed after a train conductor took a four-minute toilet break, causing disruptions during the busy morning rush. According to a report by the *Korean Herald*, the incident occurred at 8:11 am when the conductor, facing an urgent need, stopped the train at a station and walked to a restroom located on a different floor of the station. While the conductor was away, a train engineer remained in charge of the train, and the conductor returned after 4 minutes and 16 seconds. Despite the brief interruption, the disruption caused a ripple effect, leading to delays of up to 20 minutes for subsequent trains. Seoul Metro, however, stated that passengers were likely inconvenienced only minimally as train intervals remained consistent. The incident has raised concerns about the working conditions for Seoul Metro conductors, particularly regarding access to restroom facilities during long shifts. While the situation was quickly resolved, it highlighted the challenges of maintaining smooth operations on one of the world’s busiest metro systems.

Seoul Metro has not announced any measures to address the issue, but the incident has sparked a public debate about the need for better facilities or adjustments to employee scheduling to accommodate basic needs without disrupting service. In December, more than 70,000 employees from the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), representing workers in the railway, subway, and education sectors, are expected to stage a nationwide strike. The protest will focus on workplace discrimination and the demand for better working conditions, involving regular train operators such as Seoul Metro (which operates subway lines 1–8), Korea Railroad (KORAIL), and Seoul Subway Line 9.