🚨 One-Person Operation System: Balancing Transportation Efficiency and Safety

Today Korean Social News | 2025.06.03

📌 Subway Line 5 Fire Incident Raises Safety Concerns About 'One-Person Operation' and Inadequate Real-Time CCTV

💬 On May 31st, a fire incident on Seoul Subway Line 5 forced 400 passengers to evacuate urgently. Fortunately, a major disaster was avoided, but there were difficulties in understanding the situation because CCTV footage from inside the train was not sent to the control center in real-time. Also, the limitations of the 'one-person operation system' became clear - where a single train operator handles both train operation and passenger safety alone. Experts are suggesting the deployment of safety personnel during rush hours and improvements to the CCTV system.

Summary

• The one-person operation system is a system where one train operator runs trains or buses alone.
• It was introduced to reduce operating costs and improve efficiency, but safety issues continue to be raised.
• Recent subway fire incidents have revealed the limitations of emergency response capabilities.

1️⃣ Definition

One-person operation system means a system where one train operator runs trains, buses, and other public transportation alone. In the past, train operators and conductors (or assistant operators) worked together, but now one person handles all tasks to reduce operating costs and improve efficiency.

Simply put, there used to be separate drivers and crew members, but now the driver does both the driving and crew work.

💡 Why is this important?

• It can greatly reduce public transportation operating costs.
• It can improve the efficiency of workforce management.
• However, there may be limitations in emergency response and passenger safety management.
• Train operators' workload increases, raising concerns about overwork and stress.

2️⃣ Background and Current Status of One-Person Operation System

📕 Background and Purpose of Introduction

• The one-person operation system was introduced for economic efficiency. Main background includes:

  • Labor cost reduction: Can save about 60 million won per crew member annually.
  • Operational efficiency: Can run more trains with fewer people, reducing the interval between trains.
  • Technology development: Automation systems and safety devices made one-person operation possible.
  • Global trend: Major cities worldwide are switching to one-person operation systems.

• The domestic introduction process was gradual. Main process includes:

  • Serious discussions began in the late 1990s.
  • Pilot operations started on some lines in the early 2000s.
  • Full implementation began on Seoul Subway Lines 5-8 in 2005.
  • Currently, most subway and metropolitan railways use one-person operation.
  • One-person operation has also become common in the bus sector.

📕 Current Operation Status and Features

• Current status of one-person operation in domestic public transportation. Main status includes:

  • Seoul Subway: Operating on Lines 5-9, Gyeongui-Jungang Line, Bundang Line, Shinbundang Line, etc.
  • Metropolitan railways: Operating on most lines including Line 1, Gyeongin Line, Gyeongbu Line.
  • Metropolitan city subways: All subways in Busan, Daegu, Gwangju, and Daejeon use one-person operation.
  • City buses: All city buses nationwide operate with one-person operation.
  • Express and intercity buses: Most operate with one-person operation except for some long-distance routes.

• Technical support systems for one-person operation are in place. Main systems include:

  • Automatic Train Control (ATC): Automatically controls train intervals and speed.
  • Platform Screen Doors (PSD): Prevents passengers from falling onto tracks.
  • CCTV monitoring: Can check situations inside cars in real-time.
  • Passenger emergency communication devices: Passengers can directly contact operators or control centers.
  • Automatic boarding and departure announcements: Automatically announces station names and transfer information.

📕 Advantages and Disadvantages of One-Person Operation

• The advantages of one-person operation are clear. Main advantages include:

  • Economic efficiency: Annual labor cost savings of hundreds of billions of won.
  • Operational flexibility: Can flexibly adjust train intervals as needed.
  • Service expansion: Can expand routes or increase trains with saved costs.
  • Technology advancement promotion: Accelerates the introduction of automation systems.

• However, there are concerning disadvantages. Main disadvantages include:

  • Safety concerns: Difficult for one person to handle everything during emergencies.
  • Operator overwork: Heavy workload having to drive and manage passengers simultaneously.
  • Service quality decline: Difficult to respond immediately to passenger inquiries or help requests.
  • Crime response limitations: Difficult to respond to in-car crimes or unexpected situations.

Major Safety Concerns of One-Person Operation

1. Emergency response: Difficult for one person to safely evacuate all passengers during fires, terrorism, medical emergencies
2. Crime prevention: Difficult to respond immediately to in-car crimes like sexual harassment and assault
3. Operator fatigue: Fatigue accumulation from long hours of concentrated driving and passenger management
4. Equipment failure: Response delays when technical problems like door malfunctions or CCTV breakdowns occur
5. Passenger safety accidents: Limitations in preventing and responding to accidents during boarding and alighting

3️⃣ Domestic and International Cases and Safety Measures

✅ Major Domestic Cases and Problems

• There have been incidents related to one-person operation in Korea. Major cases include:

  • May 2025 Subway Line 5 fire incident: Revealed inadequate real-time CCTV transmission and limitations of one-person operation.
  • 2023 subway sexual harassment incident: The operator couldn't immediately detect in-car sexual harassment while focused on driving.
  • 2022 passenger medical emergency: It was difficult for the operator alone to handle emergency patients and train operation simultaneously.
  • Frequent door entrapment accidents: Safety accidents continue to occur due to pressure to shorten boarding and alighting time.

• Various efforts are being made to improve safety. Main improvement measures include:

  • Building real-time CCTV systems: Control centers monitor in-car situations in real-time.
  • Deploying safety personnel during rush hours: Additional crew members are deployed only during busy hours.
  • Strengthening emergency communication systems: Building smooth communication between passengers, operators, and control centers.
  • Strengthening operator training: Expanding emergency response capabilities and passenger service training.
  • Expanding platform safety facilities: Expanding safety facilities like screen doors, CCTV, and emergency bells.

✅ International Operation Cases and Implications

• We need to look at one-person operation cases in developed countries. Major cases include:

  • Japan: Most Tokyo subways use one-person operation, boasting accurate operation and high safety. Passenger manners and social order support this.
  • Germany: Berlin subway uses one-person operation but has sufficient station staff to complement safety.
  • France: Paris subway even operates unmanned on some lines and has strong control systems.
  • Singapore: All subways use one-person operation, but strong law and order and civic consciousness result in very few safety accidents.

• There are implications from international cases. Main implications include:

  • Technical complement: Developed countries overcome the limitations of one-person operation with advanced safety facilities and automation systems.
  • Civic consciousness: High civic consciousness and orderly culture are success factors for one-person operation.
  • Legal sanctions: Strong punishment and rapid response systems for crimes on public transportation are established.
  • Supplementary personnel: Sufficient deployment of station staff and security personnel complements the limitations of one-person operation.
  • Gradual introduction: They gradually expanded after sufficient safety measures and pilot operations.

4️⃣ Related Terms

🔎 Train Operator

• A train operator is a professional driver who operates trains and subways.
• A train operator refers to a professional driver who operates railway vehicles such as electric trains, trains, and subways. They don't just drive, but play an important role in ensuring passenger safety and on-time operation.
• Main duties of train operators include: first, train operation, speed control, and accurate stopping at stations. Second, passenger safety management and emergency response. Third, vehicle inspection and initial response to breakdowns. Fourth, schedule compliance and communication with control centers.
• To become a train operator, you must obtain railway-related certifications and complete professional training courses. You must also pass strict physical examinations including vision, hearing, and reaction speed tests, and receive regular retraining and health checkups. Under the one-person operation system, the role and responsibility of train operators have increased, making improvement of treatment and working conditions an important task.

🔎 Automatic Train Control (ATC)

• ATC is a system that automatically controls train operation to improve safety.
• Automatic Train Control (ATC) refers to a signal system that automatically controls train speed and intervals to prevent collision accidents and ensure safe operation. Computers track the location and speed of all trains in real-time and control them to maintain safe distances.
• Main functions of ATC include: first, automatically maintaining safe distances between trains to prevent collisions. Second, automatic speed limit control to prevent speeding. Third, automatic stop function when signals are violated. Fourth, accurate stop position guidance to ensure safe boarding and alighting.
• The ATC system is core foundational technology for one-person operation, greatly reducing accidents caused by operator mistakes or carelessness. However, when system failures or power outages occur, manual operation is required, so operator expertise and skills remain important. Recently, it's evolving into more advanced autonomous driving systems, making unmanned operation possible in the future.

🔎 Platform Screen Doors (PSD)

• PSD are safety barriers installed between platforms and tracks.
• Platform Screen Doors (PSD) refer to automatic opening and closing safety barriers installed between tracks and platforms at subway or train stations. They open simultaneously with train doors when trains arrive and close together when departing to protect passenger safety.
• Main functions of PSD include: first, preventing passengers from falling onto tracks or contact accidents with trains. Second, blocking wind and noise from subway tunnels. Third, improving air conditioning efficiency to save energy. Fourth, preventing suicide or track intrusion.
• PSD are very important safety devices in one-person operation. When it's difficult for operators to directly check passenger boarding and alighting situations, PSD enable safe boarding and alighting by linking with train doors. However, when PSD malfunction, manual operation is required, so regular inspection and maintenance are essential. Currently installed at most subway stations, they greatly contribute to passenger safety.

5️⃣ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: If one-person operation isn't safe, why do we keep using it?

A: One-person operation is a choice that comprehensively considers both safety and economics. It's not a completely dangerous system, and actually achieves a considerable level of safety through various safety devices and technical supplements. First, the economic benefits are very large. We can save about 60 million won annually per crew member, resulting in hundreds of billions of won in total operating cost savings. These saved costs are reinvested in route expansion, vehicle increases, and safety facility expansion. Also, advanced safety systems like ATC, PSD, and CCTV greatly supplement operators' work. Actually, statistics show that major accidents have greatly decreased since introducing one-person operation. However, to improve emergency response capabilities, we're continuously strengthening supplementary measures like enhanced real-time monitoring, safety personnel deployment during busy hours, and expanded operator training. The important thing is finding a balance between reasonable levels of safety and economics, not perfect safety.

Q: Doesn't one-person operation make train operators work too hard?

A: The increased workload for train operators due to one-person operation is indeed an important issue. In the past, operators focused only on driving while conductors handled passenger management, but now one person must do everything. They must monitor passenger situations while driving, respond immediately when emergencies occur, and check boarding and alighting safety. This has indeed increased mental stress and fatigue. However, various efforts are being made to improve this. First, shift systems are being improved to shorten working hours and ensure rest time. Also, allowances and benefits have been expanded to improve operator treatment. Technically, automation system introduction is reducing operators' workload, and regular health checkups and psychological counseling programs are being operated. Most importantly, sufficient education and training are being provided so operators can work with confidence. Efforts to improve operators' working conditions and treatment will continue in the future.