Brit warns Koreans against privatization of railway

[bikkuri bahn]

Christian Wolmar arrived at the Hankyoreh’s offices in Seoul’s Mapo district on Aug. 27...A transportation policy reporter for Britain’s The Independent newspaper in the early 1990s, he first rose to renown with his opposition to his country’s rail privatization push after the Conservative Party took power. He has published nearly a dozen books on railways, including “On the Wrong Line” and “Down the Tube.” Now he’s turning his attention to the privatization currently being pushed by the South Korean government. “They’re making the same mistake Britain did,” he said.

 

http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_international/601193.html

 

Maybe the S. Koreans should look to the breakup of JNR, which is generally considered a successful attempt at privatization of a debt-saddled railway, and often contrasted with the British experience.  But I'm sure many are loath to emulate anything from Japan.