Safety Lies Before an Accident, Not After

Korea National Railway is adopting a "preventive safety" approach, moving away from addressing problems after they arise. This new philosophy, named "Best Safety" within KNR's "BASE" management framework, emphasizes identifying and mitigating risks before they materialize. The strategy involves integrating advanced technological systems to proactively monitor and manage railway infrastructure.

A central component of this shift is the development of a predictive maintenance system. KNR plans to expand the deployment of inspection vehicles to secure more real-time data on facility conditions. This data will then be combined with artificial intelligence to analyze extensive records, detect early warning signs of trouble, and facilitate repairs before issues escalate, aiming to raise rail facility management to a higher level.

Additionally, KNR intends to deploy intelligent CCTV systems that use AI to identify abnormal situations in the field and alert operators immediately. This aims to enable a faster initial response and prevent accidents rather than reacting to them. The corporation plans to install these AI-powered monitoring systems at an additional 3,113 sites, including stations and trackside areas, by 2033.

While technology forms the backbone of this strategy, KNR Chairman Jeong Jin-hyuk emphasizes that AI cannot fully replace human involvement. Field experience and the judgment of skilled engineers remain crucial for verifying and acting upon the data and alerts generated by these systems, suggesting a collaborative model where technology augments human expertise.