President Choi Yeon-hye holds the Golden Chariot Top CEO Award, one of the three awards that Korail won at the presentation ceremony of the International Transport Award held at the Inter-Continental Hotel in Vienna, Austria, on Nov. 11. Korail also won the Top Railroad Enterprise and the Best Safety Award.

The Korea Railroad Corp. (Korail) won three awards at the Golden Chariot International Transport Award in Vienna, Austria on Nov. 11, Korail said recently.

The railroad company won the awards in three areas: the Top Railroad Enterprise Award; the Top CEO Award for 2015; and the Best Safety Award. The awards are considered “the Oscars” of the railroad transportation industry, and were created by the Russian Parliament in 2005. The awards include ones for 34 sectors of the railroad transport industry. They are presented to organizations and individuals in recognition of their contributions to the growth of the railroads around the world as it is the first such international award for the railroad transport industry. 

The selection of the winners of the awards is made by a committee made up of representatives of the well-known railroad world organizations such as UNECE, UIC, OSJD, and CCTT.

The awards are shaped like a gold chariot, appropriate considering the name of the top award is the Golden Chariot Award.

The citations accompanying the awards for Korail said it boosted the organizational effect through an effective management of the railroad system around the country. Korail also was given credit for using Big Data for its personnel policies to strengthen the responsible management and improvement in its financial soundness and the sales of its non-essential assets to make its operational profitable for the first time in recent years. Korail was also credited with opening a new success model in the operation of the railroads for the development of the railroad industry.

On Korail CEO Choi Yeon-hey’s winning the Top CEO Award, the citation said she has made a great contribution to the prosperity of Europe and Asia, with railroads and winning international support for the idea to link the two divided Koreas with the railroad. The citation also noted that President Choi helped the establishment of a solid management and labor union relations through improved communication and management based on jobsites.

The Korail CEO said she feels very proud that Korail won international recognition and she promised to continuously work towards boosting the international competitiveness of Korea and the development of Korail. 

The award ceremony for the Golden Chariot Award took place on Nov. 11 at Inter-Continental Hotel in Vienna, Austria.

What is now known as Korail was started as Railroad Administration Bureau of the Ministry of Transportation with the establishment of South Korean government. On Sept. 1, 1963, the bureau became an agency that was known as Korean National Railroad (KNR) in English. 

In 2003, KNR adopted the current "Korail" logo in blue, but the "Korail" name was adopted before 2003. On January 1, 2005, KNR was split into Korea Railroad Corporation, which succeeded railroad operation with the Korail logo and name, and Korea Rail Network Authority, which succeeded maintaining tracks. In 2007, Corporate identity combining regarding 'Korail" was officially ended. In 2013 Dr. Choi YeonHye was appointed as the first female president and CEO of Korail.

Korail has expertise in many fields of railway operation, consulting, feasibility study, project management, system engineering, technical advice, turn-key project, risk management, and staff Training.

In all the sectors covering railway administration, technology development, and management, Korail will provide the best service as the best partner that you want. Korail is ready to transfer its know-how in:

- Organization and personnel management at railway operators

- Feasibility study and design of technical support for railway operation 

- Technical support for railway operation

- Budgetary plan for railway modernization and construction 

- Train diagrams for efficient train operation

- Education and training

- Operation and maintenance of rolling stock as well as the electrical, signaling and communications systems 

The know-how of KORAIL has been accumulated over 114 years of railway operation. It has firmly established its management and an optimal sales system. KORAIL provides extensive know-how and technical advice for mixed train operations in both conventional and high-speed lines.

A view of the Top CEO Golden Chariot Award that Korail President Choi Yeon-hye won.(Photos:Korail)