Subway Air Conditioning Complaints Reach Over 100,000 in Seoul During July
In the sweltering heat of summer, Seoul Metro has found itself grappling with a surge in temperature-related complaints, particularly on Line No. 2. Over the past three months, the subway operator received more than 340,000 complaints about heating and cooling issues, accounting for a significant 79.6% of all complaints filed with Seoul Metro's call center.
The high volume of passengers on Line No. 2, which averages 1.96 million passengers per day, is believed to be a key factor in this trend. As the busiest line, it is likely that discomfort related to heating and cooling is more pronounced, especially during record-breaking heatwaves. This, in turn, leads to frequent complaints about crowding and varied individual temperature preferences.
The influx of complaints has been affecting Seoul Metro's ability to respond promptly to emergencies, such as passengers requiring urgent medical assistance. In response, the Seoul Transportation Corporation has taken several steps to address the issue. They have placed stickers stating that "room temperature is automatically maintained" on trains and produced videos explaining that temperature perception varies among passengers.
To further alleviate the problem, Seoul Metro encourages passengers to use apps or chatbots to submit temperature complaints rather than calling customer centers. This shift in complaint handling channels aims to free staff to prioritise urgent and emergency responses.
In a bid to curb excessive temperature-related complaints, Seoul Metro has started a trial run of placing stickers on Line No. 8, with plans to expand the initiative to other lines in the future. The number of temperature-related complaints has been increasing each year, with more than 500,000 complaints regarding Seoul Metro's heating and cooling systems received from January to July.
Despite these efforts, July saw 108,000 complaints about train air conditioning on Line No. 2, with an average of 3,494 complaints per day, stating the system was too hot. This underscores the ongoing challenge Seoul Metro faces in maintaining passenger comfort while also ensuring efficient emergency response capabilities.
[1] Seoul Subway Line No. 2 Struggles Under Weight of Temperature Complaints
[2] Seoul Metro's Response to Record-Breaking Temperature Complaints
[3] Understanding Seoul Metro's Temperature Complaint Issue
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