Why Were the Operator and Officials Referred to Prosecutors Over the Hadong Rail Bike Crashes?

Quick answer: Police in South Korea referred the operator of the Hadong Rail Bike, six employees and two Hadong County officials to prosecutors after two crashes at the tourist facility in May 2026 killed one person and injured 20.

Key facts

• What: Two rail bike crashes 15 days apart, followed by a police investigation into negligence
• Where: Hadong Rail Bike, Hadong County, Gyeongsangnam-do, South Korea
• When: Crashes on 2 May and 17 May 2026; police announced the referrals on 14 October 2026
• Reported toll: 1 killed, 20 injured across the two crashes
• Status: Referred to prosecutors on charges of occupational negligence resulting in death and injury and violations of the Tourism Promotion Act

What happened

The Hadong Rail Bike is a tourist facility opened in May 2017 using the abandoned Gyeongjeon Line railway. It ran on a 5.3-kilometre section between Bukcheon Station and Yangbo Station, with about 70 vehicles, including four-seat and two-seat models. Passengers boarded a scenic train at Bukcheon Station, travelled to Yangbo Station and returned on rail bikes. A 2-ton towing vehicle, retrofitted with rail wheels, was used to pull the rail bikes to Yangbo Station. Since 2023, operations had been outsourced to a private company.

The first crash happened at about 12:14pm on 2 May, when a scenic train collided with eight stationary rail bikes about 1 kilometre from Bukcheon Station, injuring 17 passengers. The National Forensic Service later confirmed that the scenic train's braking system had insufficient braking distance.

Instead of investigating the cause or putting effective measures in place, Hadong County officials rushed to resume operations in time for the regional festival's opening on 15 May, according to the police analysis. Police found that the county's corrective action notice, sent to the operator on the afternoon of 14 May and requiring compliance by the morning of 15 May, was a formality to restart operations rather than a genuine effort to ensure safety.

The second, fatal crash

At noon on 17 May, 15 days after the first crash, a four-seat rail bike travelling at more than 30 km/h struck a towing vehicle ahead on a downhill section about 400 metres from Bukcheon Station. Four people were injured, including members of a family, and a 70-year-old woman later died from her injuries.

The rail bike involved in the second crash had malfunctioning speed-control brakes, which should restrict wheel rotation if speeds exceed 25 km/h. Police identified the towing vehicle as an illegally modified SUV, with its wheels replaced and rail wheels welded on without authorisation.

What the investigation found

The Gyeongnam Provincial Police Agency's Regional Crime Investigation Unit said the operator's representative, six employees and two Hadong County officials had been referred to the Prosecution Service without detention. The operating company was also referred for violating the Tourism Promotion Act, having deployed uncertified, illegally modified vehicles.

Police found that the facility, operated since 2023 by a locally formed company with no relevant expertise, lacked a legally required safety operation standard guideline. Passengers were also not properly instructed on brake operation during the crashes.

Police considered applying the Serious Accidents Punishment Act's "major civilian disaster" charge, but concluded the facility did not qualify as a public-use site. Classified under the Tourism Promotion Act as a "general theme park", it did not meet the criteria for that Act, which applies to "comprehensive theme parks". A police official said that while the Tourism Promotion Act mandates safety guidelines and management plans, detailed standards and templates for implementation were severely lacking, and that recommendations to improve safety standards for similar facilities had been submitted to the relevant authorities.

Why tourist ride safety standards matter

Tourist rides that reuse old railway lines, roads or other infrastructure still need the same basics as any passenger transport: vehicles that are certified and maintained, brakes that work at the speeds actually reached, clear safety briefings for every passenger, and an operator with the expertise to run the service. When an incident happens, the facility should stay closed until the cause is found and fixed — reopening to meet a festival deadline, without verified safety measures, puts later passengers at risk of the same failure.

Frequently asked questions

How many people were killed or injured in the Hadong rail bike crashes?

One person was killed and 20 were injured across the two crashes: 17 injured on 2 May, and four injured on 17 May, one of whom — a 70-year-old woman — later died.

Who was referred to prosecutors over the Hadong rail bike crashes?

Police referred the operator's representative, six employees and two Hadong County officials, and also referred the operating company, on charges of occupational negligence resulting in death and injury and violations of the Tourism Promotion Act.

What caused the Hadong rail bike crashes?

Police described the crashes as a man-made disaster caused by the local government's administrative convenience and the operator's negligent management. The first crash involved insufficient braking distance; the second involved malfunctioning speed-control brakes and an illegally modified towing vehicle, after operations were rushed back for a festival.

Why was the Serious Accidents Punishment Act not applied?

Police concluded the facility did not qualify as a public-use site under that Act, because it is classified as a "general theme park" under the Tourism Promotion Act, not a "comprehensive theme park".

*This is a developing story compiled from verified reporting; figures may change as official information is released.*

Source: The Chosun Daily (English) — https://www.chosun.com/english/national-en/2026/10/14/F2OO3DN62BHZFBVYGTIZA3KYQY/