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Political parties vow to roll out safety measures following subway worker’s death

May 31, 2016
Visitors pay tribute at a Seoul-based subway station on May 30, 2016, following the death of a 19-year-old maintenance worker surnamed Kim, who died while on duty on May 28. Police cited the negligence of the subway operator as the main cause of the accident. (Yonhap)

Visitors pay tribute at a Seoul-based subway station on May 30, 2016, following the death of a 19-year-old maintenance worker surnamed Kim, who died while on duty on May 28. Police cited the negligence of the subway operator as the main cause of the accident. (Yonhap)

SEOUL (Yonhap) — South Korea’s ruling and opposition parties on Tuesday vowed to roll out safety measures for subway workers, adding they will make efforts to conduct a thorough probe and come up with effective preventive measures.

On Saturday, a 19-year-old maintenance worker surnamed Kim died while on duty when he was hit by a subway train in Seoul. Police cited the negligence of the subway operator as the main cause of the accident.

The incident drew backlash from the public on the working environment for employees of local subway stations.

“Behind the tragic death, there were subcontract and lowest-price bidding arrangements,” said Rep. Chung Jin-suk, the floor leader of the ruling Saenuri Party, adding he will make efforts to prevent such accidents from occurring in the future.

Woo Won-shik of the main opposition Minjoo Party of Korea said the accident came as the operator outsourced maintenance work, adding the victim was forced to work alone due to a shortage of employees.

“While Seoul Metro should have supervised the operation, it did not have direct responsibility. Such factors must be revealed through the investigation,” Woo said, adding the 20th National Assembly must come up with measures to ban outsourcing for dangerous duties.

“A young man aged less than 20 years died while doing his job,” said Ahn Cheol-soo, co-chairman of the People’s Party. He pointed out that someone has to continue doing such dangerous work for the public and although the risks cannot be completely eradicated, they must at least be reduced.

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