Temperature control notice posted inside Seoul Subway Line 8 trains. (Image courtesy of Seoul Metro)
SEOUL, Aug. 14 (Korea Bizwire) — Seoul Metro is appealing for commuter cooperation as it struggles to manage a flood of complaints over subway heating and cooling, with the vast majority concerning uncomfortably hot trains.
From May to July this year, the operator received more than 340,000 temperature-related grievances — an average of 3,520 per day — and 505,000 in the first seven months alone, accounting for nearly 80% of all complaints filed with its customer service center. “Hot” complaints (472,000) far outnumbered “cold” ones (33,000).
The annual volume of such complaints has risen sharply, from 560,000 in 2022 to 875,000 in 2023, before reaching 925,000 last year. Data from the past five years shows Line 2 — Seoul’s busiest route — accounting for nearly 40% of the cases, followed by Lines 7, 3, and 5.
In response, Seoul Metro has affixed stickers on Lines 2 and 8 informing passengers that “cabin temperatures are automatically regulated” and is broadcasting videos in stations explaining government-mandated temperature standards and differences in perceived comfort levels.
“We are committed to providing a pleasant subway environment,” said Ma Hae-geun, head of Seoul Metro’s operations division. “But to ensure we can address urgent issues — from safety incidents to disorderly conduct — we ask that passengers refrain from filing excessive temperature complaints.”
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
