“반드시 KTX로 돌아가겠다”…20년 만에 KTX 오른 김승하 ‘열차팀장’ [만리재사진첩]

Former KTX train crew chief Kim Seung-ha boarded a KTX train on November 24th, marking his return to the railway after a 20-year absence. It had been 12 years since he was laid off following a 2006 resolution, and he officially rejoined the company's 180 dismissed train crews in July 2018. In 2026, he once again took on duties as a train crew chief.

On that evening, Kim Seung-ha, a former KTX train crew chief and conductor, began his on-the-job role, managing the KTX Sanyang 544 train from Seoul Station to Yongin Station. At 10:31 PM, the train slowed down as it approached the Yongin Station platform, stopping at the 18th car, where Kim Seung-ha carefully accelerated to reach the exit.

After exchanging a brief word with his colleagues who had disembarked from the 17th car, Kim Seung-ha inspected the passengers waiting at the 18th car exit to ensure everyone was onboard. At 10:36 PM, he boarded the train and greeted the passengers with a smile, reciting his long-held conviction that he would "definitely return to KTX." He had been a KTX train crew member since 2004, but his return as a train conductor was a deeply personal decision, deeply rooted in his 12-year struggle.

Reflecting on his return, Kim Seung-ha confessed that he had initially viewed his reunion with KTX as a "long time coming." His return, however, was not without its challenges, as the role demanded additional responsibilities beyond traditional train crew duties, such as signal control and mechanical management. Despite the added weight, Kim Seung-ha expressed gratitude for the camaraderie he experienced during his first day on the job, reminiscing about the simple pleasures of sharing meals and informal conversations with his former colleagues in the crew locker room.