In a surprising turn of events, 125 trains were delayed in Seoul after a train operator took a brief four-minute restroom break. The incident occurred on Monday around 8 am local time on Line 2, when the conductor, working on the outer loop, urgently stopped at a station to use the restroom.
An engineer took over the operations while the operator quickly made his way to the bathroom, which was located on a different floor. It took the operator 4 minutes and 16 seconds to return, leading to a domino effect that caused significant delays for numerous trains, many of which were held up for 20 minutes or more beyond their scheduled times.
On Seoul’s circular lines, conductors typically work for two to three hours without breaks. While portable toilets are available for emergencies, staff members sometimes have to travel some distance to reach restrooms away from the platforms.
Despite the delays, Seoul Metro reported that the impact on passengers was minimized, with most reaching their destinations without major inconvenience.
The incident sparked reactions on social media, with many raising concerns about labor conditions. One user commented, “Train punctuality should be important, but not at the cost of denying a person a few-minute break.” Another suggested, “This incident highlights the challenges of a one-man system.” Others called for better labor rights for train operators.
