In Seoul, South Korea, 125 trains were delayed after a train operator took a short four-minute toilet break, causing significant disruption to the city's metro system.
The incident took place around 8:00 AM on Monday, on Seoul's busy Line 2, which operates a circular route around the city. The operator, working on the outer loop of the line, urgently stopped at a station and quickly ran to the restroom, which was located on a different floor. While the operator was away, an engineer took charge of the situation.
The operator was away for 4 minutes and 16 seconds, which was just enough time to set off a chain reaction of delays. As a result, several trains were delayed, some by over 20 minutes. The delays impacted commuters across the city, making the morning rush hour even more chaotic than usual.
Under normal circumstances, train conductors on Seoul's circular metro lines work for two to three hours without breaks. Although portable toilets are available on some trains for emergencies, staff sometimes need to use restrooms located far from the platforms, adding to the challenges of working under time constraints.
Despite the delays, Seoul Metro managed to minimize the impact on passengers, ensuring that most reached their destinations with only slight inconvenience. The situation was resolved without major incident, but the ripple effects were felt across the network.
The incident sparked a flurry of reactions on social media, with many users expressing concern over labor rights and the challenges faced by train operators. One user noted, "Train punctuality should be prioritized, but not at the cost of a person who can’t even take a few minutes to use the restroom." Others highlighted the limitations of a system where one operator is responsible for overseeing an entire train during long hours of work. A third user called for stronger labor protections to ensure that workers are given necessary breaks without risking disruptions.