Oh Young-sik, president of South Korea’s state-run railway operator Korea Railroad Corp. (Korail) has resigned to take responsibility for the recent series of accidents of the nation’s high-speed train Korea Train Express (KTX).

“It will take full responsibility for failing to keep my pledge to fulfill Korail’s duty to ensure public safety due to the series of accidents,” he said in a statement on Tuesday.

The three-time lawmaker who took office in February last year has been credited for improving employment situation of the state-run railway firm by putting about 90 people back on the job and rehired female workers who had been unfairly fired about 12 years ago.

However, he has been under fire to step down after about 10 accidents occurred for KTX trains over the past three weeks including the latest derailment of a Seoul-bound KTX train from Gangneung Station that injured 16 passengers. President Moon Jae-in on Monday ordered strong measures to enhance safety and restore public trust on the nation’s railway system after calling the accident “shameful.”

By Choi Hee-seok and Choi Mira

[ⓒ Pulse by Maeil Business Newspaper & mk.co.kr, All rights reserved]