The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) hosted a ceremony to celebrate the 2022 anniversary of Railway Day, at Millennium Hilton, downtown Seoul, on June 28.
The ceremony was held under the theme “Railway Will Take a Lead in Making Korea Safe and People Happy.”
Among those on hand at the event were 2nd MOTIE Vice Minister Eo Myeong-so, Rep. Lee Hun-seung of the People Power Party, Rep. Moon Jin-seok of the Democratic Party of Korea, Chairman Kim Han-young of the Korea Railway Association, concurrently chairman of Korea National Railway (KR).
Railway Day originally fell on Sept. 18, designated during Japanese occupation of the nation, but the day changed to June 28, 1894, when the nation’s first government department in charge of railway was inaugurated. Railway Day has been observed on June 28 annually since 2018.
During this year’s anniversary event, 12 people were honored with an order and other government prizes in recognition for their contribution to the development of the railway industry.
The coveted Order of Industrial Service, Iron Tower went to Chairman Song Jin-ho of Sejong Eng. in recognition for his contribution to developing railway technologies and landing overseas railway project orders.
Lee Suk-ho, executive vice president of Dohwa Engineering, and Lee Ahn-ho, vice president of Korea Railway Technology Research Institute, were presented with the Industrial Service Medal.
A railway literary awards ceremony took place in celebration of Railway Day. Seventeen winners were to be announced among 1,005 entries which were submitted from April 14 to May 31 in a contest under the theme “Railway.”
A railway photo exhibition, titled “Memories and Records on Railway,” happened at Culture Station Seoul 284, a replica of old Seoul Station, June 28 to June 29.
Dignitaries, including MOTIE Vice Minister Eo Myeong-so and Chairman Kim Han-young of the Korea Railway Association, concurrently chairman of Korea National Railway (KR) attend the Road Day anniversary event. (Photos: MOLIT)
The photo exhibition is to unveil 20 photos of now-defunct Seoul Station, 20 photos of closed railway tracks, and a blueprint of Mika 5-class steam engine locomotive, which played a leading role during the Korean War, for the first time.
In his commemorative speech, 2nd MOTIE Vice Minister Eo gave words of encouragement to those in the railway industry who had devoted themselves to making railway safe and convenient.
Vice Minister Eo stressed the ushering in of an era of Great Train Express (GTX) for all and KTX trains to any place in which anyone around the country can enjoy equal transportation benefits from any place of the nation.
Vice Minister Eo said the government will build a safer and more convenient railway environment by establishing a second railway control center in Osong, Chungcheongbuk-do, by 2027, building smart stations and improving old railway stations and facilities.
The government said it would spare no efforts to provide support to nurture the railway industry and the industry’s exploring of overseas markets.
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