On the 4th, the Seoul Subway Line 2 was out of service for about 20 minutes during the morning commute. Even after service resumed, trains ran slowly, causing inconvenience for citizens.
According to the Seoul Transportation Corporation, train services were halted from 7:50 a.m. to 8:09 a.m. A corporation official noted, "There was a switch malfunction at Seoul National University Station on Line 2," adding, "Service resumed after repairs were completed." A switch is a signaling device that adjusts the direction of incoming trains.
However, due to the 19-minute suspension of train operations, there were issues with the scheduling interval on Line 2. As the malfunction was not resolved, service was resumed under signal control, which caused trains to operate slowly.
As trains stopped at each station and waited, citizens disembarked and switched to buses or taxis. Mr. Jang (37), who was commuting from Sindorim Station to Samsung Station, said, "It's not just the time, but there were so many people in the train car that it was hard to breathe," adding, "I got off to transfer to a bus at Seocho Station."
Internet users shared the crowded situation inside the train and the dense crowd of passengers inside the station on social media. On X (formerly Twitter), one internet user posted a photo of the transfer corridor at Sadang Station, stating, "I’m about to be late on the third day of practice." Another internet user mentioned, "The subway isn't coming, but people keep pushing into the station, and I can't even go down to the platform." One internet user said, "It seems to take 10 minutes to pass through one station."
The Seoul Transportation Corporation fully restored operations on Line 2 around 11:50 a.m., four hours after the malfunction occurred.